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Mauritanian community celebrates Independence Day

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:38:55 GMT

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Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Mauritanian Community in The Gambia, on Friday organised a reception at the Sun Beach Hotel, to celebrate their country’s 48th Independence anniversary.

To mark this day, His Excellency Yaya Ngam, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to The Gambia, delivered a statement at the reception.
He expressed delight at the presence of the invited guests and dignitaries, describing it as a clear indication of the already existing relations between the two countries and their people.

He added His Excellency General Muhammed Ould Abdel Aziz, President of the High Council of State; head of state of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and His Excellency Professor Alhaji Yaya Jammeh, President of the Republic of The Gambia have good brotherly relations.

The Mauritanian plenipotentiary explained that due to the block of institutions and difficult economic situation, Mauritania Armed Forces have with a start of patriotism carried out a movement of rectification on the 6th of August 2008, adding that from that date, the high council of state has taken a lot of measures in order to improve the living condition of the people of Mauritania.

He revealed that the high council of state has launched a policy of proximity by visiting disadvantaged regions where less privileged people are living and taking care of institutions whose objectives are to satisfy the vital needs of people. Within the next days, he added, consultations called “the Estate General of Democracy” will assembled for all the political actors and members of civil society, for a boost of the democratic process.

Ambassador Ngam also seized the opportunity to thanked The Gambian leader for sending a ministerial delegation twice to Nouakchott and for receiving envoys of high council of state and other missionaries from the government and the people of Mauritania.

The Mauritanian diplomat also commended the Gambian government for treating well the Mauritania community in The Gambia, especially those working in the business sector and also thanked the government for the warm welcome.

He finally urged the Mauritanian community in The Gambia to be law abiding, to maintain the already existing relationship between the two nations.

Crispin Grey Johnson, secretary of state for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology represented the Gambian government with a host of other dignitaries.

Author: By Sheriff Barry

Communities Sensitised on home based management of Malaria

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:13:34 GMT

Friday, November 28, 2008

The Regional health management team of Central River Region (CRR) today, Wednesday November 18, held a one day sensitisation for care givers, teachers, opinion leaders, women’s groups, and youth groups on Malaria prevention and control, signs and symptoms, early ANC clinic attendance, use of treated bed nets and counselling at Ballangharr village in the Lower Saloum district CRR North.

The sensitisation programme was founded by the global fund through the malaria control programme office. Musa Camara, representative of the regional health team, underscored the need for routine antenatal clinic visits for effective intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy.

He assured the public that the new anti-malaria drug is safe and effective, saying introduction of the new drug will contribute effectively in addressing the high incidence of malaria morbidity and mortality by increasing community based management of the disease. Mr Camara emphasised the need for children and pregnant mothers to sleep under a treated bed net.

Ida Ceesay, CHN Senior tutor, seized the opportunity to commend efforts of the Global Fund for complementing the efforts of the Gambia Government to attain quality and affordable health services for all. Mrs Ceesay urged both mothers and care givers to adopt what she called prompt and appropriate treatment of malaria at both home and community level within 24 hours on the set of the symptom.

Sarjo Sambou, community health nurse of the area, described home based management as an integral part of the overall malaria case management strategy which is aimed at improving access to treatment for malaria in areas with limited access to health facilities.

Author: by Lamin SM Jawo

CDDP disburses over D1M to CRR villages

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:11:25 GMT

Friday, November 28, 2008

The Community Driven Development Project (CDDP) on Wednesday 18 November, disbursed an amount of one million six hundred and sixty-four thousand two hundred and eighty-nine dalasis (D1,664,284,40) to twenty-four villages in the CRR south and Janjangbureh Local Government.The presentation ceremony was held in Janjanbureh.

Alhagie Ganyie Touray, Governor of CRR handing over the money to the beneficiaries, urged them to make good use of the money and implement the target projects which were identified by the communities themselves. He said if the projects are well implemented, it will ease the hardship of the community and it will reduce poverty. He commended the CDDP management for their hard work and dedication.

Lamin Jarjusey, the project Coordinator, pointed out that the project aims among other things, to empower communities especially to express and voice out their demands. The project also aims to empower the communities to assume responsibility for their implementation and sustainability of tthe projects.

He revealed that the fund is a grant and challenged the VDC members to summon meeting as soon as they arrive for the smooth implementation of the project. Other speakers at the presentation ceremony included Mr Balla Musa Konateh, Grant Facility Manager, Maku Ceesay, Chairman Janjangbureh Area Council, Yusupha Manneh,CEO of Janjangbureh Area Council and Lamin Badjie, the CDO South, chaired the ceremony.

Author: by Lamin SM Jawo

WOMEN’S WEEKLY: Maternal and newborn mortality is not a communicable disease, says DPS Susso

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:53:24 GMT

Friday, November 28, 2008

Mr Sainey.B.Susso, deputy permanent secretary at the department of state for Health and Social Welfare and who also double as the liaison officer at West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has disclosed that, maternal and newborn mortality is not a communicable disease, it is a social injustice and silent tragedy that rock families by the day as complications of pregnancy and child birth remain the leading cause of death among women in their reproductive age.

DPS Susso make this remarks at the closing ceremony of a nine day training of trainers on community base care of the new born, held recently at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Senegambia.

“We cannot prevent complication of pregnancy and child birth but, we can avert death if women and their newborns receive timely and appropriate care, so that maternal and newborn, mortality is no longer a tragedy that cannot be overcome”, he stated.

Therefore, he said, renewed impetus by their governments to place maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity reduction high on the agenda for enhanced political commitment and their quest for adequate budgetary allocation cannot be backed by strong partnership and donor commitment for substantial and consistent funding with the active participation of communities in all matters of maternal and newborn health.

DPS Susso revealed that, approximately, 60 percent of deliveries continue to take place at home on developing countries especially in rural areas as a result of long distances, poor road and communication networks, weak health and referral system, poverty and harmful socio-cultural beliefs and practices among others.

He added, this training has come at a time when it is most needed to upgrade the knowledge and skills of community health workers providing health care services in the communities for mother and newborns.

However, there is need for our countries to clearly define their cadre of community health workers so as to match the level of training required before embarking on step-down training. “This may also call for a policy review and revision that may be deemed necessary” he concluded.

It is estimated that of the four million neonatal deaths occur globally, 1.2 million of these occur in Africa; forty-one of every thousand babies born in Africa die before they are one month old. The neonatal mortality mirrors closely maternal mortality. Of the 510,000 maternal deaths that occurred globally in the year 2000, 238,000 of these, representing 47% occurred in African sub-region.

In West African sub-region, the estimate of maternal mortality ratio (MMR) varies from 110 to 2000 per 100,000 live births. The estimated average of 1100 is about 40 times higher than in developed countries.

Similarly about 9.4 million perinatal deaths occur annually worldwide. 98% of these occur in Africa with the highest rate also occurring in the West African sub-region. Most of these neonatal deaths are caused by infectious disease; pregnancy-related complications such as placenta praevia and abruptio placentae and obstructed labor underlying causes of intra-partum asphyxia, birth trauma, and premature birth.

Most of these causes could be averted if women were assisted by a skilled attendant during pregnancy, delivery, and post partum period. Recognising the high level of home deliveries and the low level of births attended by a skilled attendant (over 60% of deliveries take place at home largely In the rural areas and without a skilled attendant), there is need to bring more focus on community based interventions for improving maternal and newborn health.

The training of community health workers in the care of the newborn will increase coverage and access to essential newborn care by bringing services nearer to the populations and improve child health survival. Home based care will bridge the gaps in the continuum of care.

Addressing newborn health I catalyst for improving both maternal and child health and accelerating progress towards attainment of MDGs related to newborn health (MDG 4,5 and 6).

Author: by Mariatou Ngum-Saidy

Janjangbureh Police Station receives assistance

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:27:31 GMT

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

The principal of Armitage Senior Secondary School, Ebrima Joof, on Friday November 14, donated chairs to the Janjangbureh Police Station at a presentation ceremony held at the station in Janjangbureh, CRR South.

The district chief, Bakary Jam Jawo, received the chairs on behalf of the police. The deputy governor of CRR, Lamin Darboe, commended Joof for his assistance. He further spoke at length on the important role the security personnel play in the community.

He called on the beneficiaries to make the best use of the chairs and to take great care of them. The station officer, Inspector Taib Saho, thanked the principal for the gift.

Author: by Lamin SM Jawo

DoSA, TTM, others work on President Jammeh’s farms

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:40:46 GMT

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Monday, November 24, 2008

As harvesting takes centre stage in the farming arena and as part of a response to President Jammeh’s call for support in harvesting Kanilai farms, thousands of individuals from different works of life, continue to arrive at President Jammeh’s farms in Kanilai to help in harvesting the president’s farms.

The staff of the Department of State for Agriculture (DoSA); the Taiwanese Technical Mission (TTM) from Sapu in the Central River Region; Chief Bakary Dembo Badjie of Bulenghart and his people from the Foni Bondali District; over 300 people from the Guinean community in The Gambia, and many others, over weekend, all went to work on the president’s farms to take part in the harvesting.

At the Kampant rice field, the staff of DoSA and the Taiwanese Technical Mission staff were seen harvesting rice and at the same time threshing the harvested rice before bagging it for storage.

Speaking to journalists, Sidi Jarjue, permanent secretary one, DoSA, said President Jammeh’s back-to-the-land call is a demonstration to all Gambians that agriculture is the main hope for people to rely on in order to get out of poverty.

He also commended President Jammeh, who doubles as the secretary of state for agriculture, for his support and intervention in the agricultural sector.
PS Jarjue also used the opportunity to congratulate President Jammeh on the three international awards he received recently.

James Tsay, head of the Taiwanese Technical Mission at Sapu said their mission to The Gambia is to work together with Gambian people to share their experience and technology.

He said there are great potentials in agriculture in The Gambia and expressed hope that there will be a bumper harvest in rice production this year. Amadou Bojang, the custodian of the Kampant rice fields said last year he got 200 bags of rice and hopes to have over 400 bags of rice this year.

From Kampant, we also visited the palm tree garden at Kanilai, where we met over 300 members of the Guinean community in The Gambia and over 100 people from Bulenghart village in Foni Bondali, led by Chief Bakery Dembo Badjie. The group was harvesting the president’s millet farm.

Chief Bakary Dembo Badjie said he was delighted with the work at the Kanilai Farms. He promised to mobilize more people from his district to work on the president’s farm.
Ebrima Jallow, vice president of the Guinean community in the Gambia said Guineans residing in the country are happy with the president’s work.

He described President Jammeh as a visionary leader who should be emulated by all African presidents to make Africa a hunger-free continent. From Kanilai, we also visited the president’s groundnut, rice and sorrel farms in Batanding village, Somita, where we met a group of men and women working on the farm.

Author: by Assan Sallah

Chimpanzees bring solar power to three moreschools and a clinic in CRR

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:55:34 GMT

Monday, November 24, 2008

Strange but true. Thanks to the chimpanzees of the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Association (CRA) the Kudang and Sinchugundu Lower Basic Schools in CRR were both recently equipped with solar powered lighting and the facility to power laptop computers and printers.

And again thanks to the chimps, the CRA’s clinic in Sambel Kunda also has solar power for lighting and refrigeration for storing medicines. One of the most remote schools in CRR, Sambel Kunda Lower Basic, was equipped with solar power last year and now has access to the internet. The chimps of the CRA, on the islands of the River Gambia National Park, really were responsible for powering up these three schools.

True enough, the chimps were not there working with screw drivers and hammers wiring up the control panels to the batteries - but they would have been very useful in helping to secure the solar panels to the roof! It is the very fact that the chimps are there on the islands that is behind the development leading to the electrification of the schools.

The late Dr Stella Brewer Marsden OBE was responsible for setting up the CRA chimp project almost 40 years ago and was, until her untimely death in January this year, responsible for its funding, management and ensuring its continued success. It is now Africa’s longest running chimp rehab project and, with more than 80 chimps, perhaps the third or fourth largest.

It is certainly the most successful to date. Dr Stella was always focused on the long term welfare and protection of the CRA chimps and their RGNP home. However she was one of the first to become aware that sustainable wildlife conservation in poor, rural communities would only work in a development framework that really benefited the local community.

She called it her holistic approach to conservation; it is an approach that is now recognised and implemented internationally. Dr Stella became involved with the Sambel Kunda Lower Basic School at a time when there were only two teachers and a roll of around 90 children and when closure loomed.

There are now 14 teachers and around 430 children on the roll with more than 250 children currently sponsored through the CRA’s school sponsorship scheme. There are 80 children in the nursery classes for which CRA provides all the teachers.

After completing Grade 6 at Sambel Kunda school children move to various secondary schools in CRR and many continue to be sponsored by the CRA. Sambel Kunda school now has six new classrooms and a headmaster’s office thanks to Future in Our Hands (a Swedish NGO) succumbing to Dr Stella’s lobbying.

There is also a small library which was both built and stocked with a wide range of books by the second Gambia-Glasgow University Expedition. Glasgow University Expedition has partnered CRA for three years undertaking a variety of social and scientific programmes in the areas near the national park.

The school has solar power which lights one large class room, the headmaster’s office and also powers a laptop computer and a printer. Providing and installing this solar power was the work of undergraduates and post-grads from Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland.

And thanks to Gamtel setting up an Airspan phone system in the village internet access is available from the headmaster’s office. All this in one of Gambia’s remotest schools.
As Mr Musa Darboe, Head Master, Sambel Kunda School puts it:

“The installation of this solar has a great impact not only on the children but the community at large. With the introduction of light the teachers conduct night classes for the children and the teachers who are undergoing training. It also helps to solve the problem of buying candles for children to study at night.

They did not only put light but provided an inverter to provide electricity for a computer, printer, video and television for educational purposes. With the installation of this equipment children in these schools really know the importance of technology.

They were just hearing about solar but now they see it physically. These installations by Strathclyde are so important because it is one of the ways to improve education in the Gambia, especially in the local communities where there is no electricity. The importance of their work cannot be underestimated.”

Strathclyde University learnt of the CRA and its development work through Fintry School, also from near Glasgow. Fintry School had taken a serious interest in the Sambel school following a BBC Scotland documentary made about the Gambia Horse and Donkey Association‘s (GHAD) work.

GHAD was set up by Dr Stella and her sister, Heather Armstrong. It helps farmers and their equines increase their productivity and so improve farmer incomes whilst at the same time giving the animals a better quality and longer working life. A win win situation for farmers and their animals.

Mr Darboe also has this to say about the involvement of the Gambia Horse & Donkey Association (GHAD) in the schools of the area: “GHAD visit Cluster 4 schools of Bantantu, Mamud Fana, Njie Kunda, Sotokoi, Kudang, Sinchugundo and Sambel Kunda where you have the HQ in the village.

The purpose of the visits is to teach the school children how to care for the family animals particularly the donkeys. It is known that these animals do not last long in the Gambia. With the help of the GHAD set up by the late Dr Stella & her sister, Heather, the animals in Niamina East can work harder and last much longer and because of the teaching and the help with medicines. In 2007 they treated over 6,000 horses and donkeys.”

The ripple effect of connected developments, although on a micro-scale, can be seen in the above story. From Dr Stella Brewer Marsden’s long standing core concern for the CRA chimps and their national park home, which spread to the local school children and then on to their farming families to BBC Scotland – from there to Fintry Primary School and their involvement with teacher training;

then Glasgow University via their world renowned school of veterinary medicine and then out to Strathclyde University and their installation of solar power. Who knows how far and to where the ripples might eventually reach?

Author: DO

Africa must control science and technology- Malian president

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:11:57 GMT

Friday, November 21, 2008

Amadou Toumani Toure, the president of the Republic of Mali, has said that strategies of public health and care in the 21st century are based on scientific evidence and Africa must control science and technology.

He made these remarks on Monday as he presided over the official opening of a three-day Global Ministerial Forum on Research for Health at the Centre for International Press in Bamako, Mali. The three-day forum which brought together several hundred health ministers from across the globe was organized by the World Health Organisation, World Bank and other international stakeholders in the health sector. The forum is being held simultaneously with the training of journalists on research for health.

According to him, the experience of developed and emerging countries indicates that investing in scientific research and technological innovation, is a way of ensuring the future in the health, political, economic, social and cultural sectors.

“Conscious of the importance of research, the 19th congress of scientists in Africa, held in Brazzaville in 1987 under the initiatives of the OUA now AU, had assigned an objective for the mobilization of the African scientific community for development of the continent. This fight is still topical in regards to the numerous challenges that are to be taken up as far as health is concerned,” he said.

The Malian president further stated that an efficient research system would be the best approach to the prevention and management of epidemics and endemics which can hinder our development.

For his part, Louis Sambou, the regional director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on behalf of the Dr Magaret Chan, the Director General WHO, said this year’s World Health Report on primary health care sets out evidence that supports an especially relevant conclusion, meeting the public’s rising expectation for health .

According to him, the World Health Report 2008, singles out Mali’s progress towards universal health coverage as an example of what can be achieved when the policy engages community participation, especially the women.

Walter Erdelen, the assistant director general of Natural Sciences of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, (UNESCO), said the United Nation agencies have committed themselves to a reform process under the leadership of the former secretary general, Kofi Annan, and the current SG, Ban Ki-Moon, to bring greater coherence to the UN system at the national levels.

Author: by Sheriff Janko Bamako, Mali

OBITUARY ANNOUNCEMENT

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:37:06 GMT

Friday, November 21, 2008

Mr. & Mrs Martin Addo and Family of Kanifing Estate
Mr & Mrs Foday Sylva and Family of Kanifing Layout
Aunty Haddy Sylva and Family of Brikama
Mr & Mrs Leon Prom and Family of Kanifing Estate
Ms Harriette Prom and Family of Latrikunda German
Cathrine Jarjue Kette and Family of Jola Kunda
Marie Kelemas Jatta and Family of New Jeshwang
Mr and Mrs Paul Ogoo and Family
BaatiLinguere Choral group of Banjul
Ms Harriette Jammeh and Family of London UK
Mr & Mrs Cherry and Family of United States
Mr Louis Jammeh and Family of Kanifing Estate
The Entire Prom Family,
The Entire Jammeh Family
The Entire Slyva Family
The Entire Loum Family

The Board, Director and Staff of West Field Clinic Ltd.

Regret to announce the sudden death of their Nephew, Father, Brother, Uncle, Grandfather and cousin;
MR JOSEPH JAMMEH of Kanifing Estate commonly known as Jammeh Boy or Susef Jammeh which sad event occurred on Monday 17th November 2008 at the West Field Clinic Serrekunda.

This sad news is extended to;
Her Excellency Susan Wafaa Ogoo, Gambian Representative to the UN
Etienne Jammeh and Family of Casamance
Martin Jammeh and Family of Casamance
Family of the Late Sang Jammeh of Casamance
Coral Sainte Anne of Thies Senegal
Choir Members of all Catholic Churches in The Gambia & Senegal

The Jola Community of The Gambia, All Relatives and Friends in The Gambia, Casamance,
the rest of Senegal and abroad. The deceased is MR JOSEPH JAMMEH of Kanifing Estate commonly known as Jammeh Boy or Susef Jammeh

PRAYERS WILL BE HELD AT THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH AT KANIFING HOUSING ESTATE ON MONDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2008 FROM 07.00PM TO 09.00PM AND THE FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE ON TUESDAY 25TH NOVEMBER 2008 AT THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH KANIFING HOUSING ESTATE AT 4.00PM &
INTERMENT AT THE CATHOLIC CEMETRY AT OLD JESHWANG.

MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE, AMEN.

Author: DO

New classroom block for Faji Kunda School

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:55:05 GMT

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Badala Educational Project (BEP), a community-based nursery school in Faji Kunda recently received assistance from Ben and Ans Schepers, a dutch couple.

At a colorful ceremony held at the school grounds on Sunday November 16th, the couple laid the foundation stone of a four classroom, an office and a store.

Author: By Assan Sallah