The outgoing chairman of Freedom Camp International, Momodou Lamin Manneh, on Wednesday handed over to Dodou Gomez at a colourful ceremony heid at the KMC conference hall in Kanifing.

The mission of the Camp is to improve communications and information exchange between students of all regions,assist schools to not only have acccess to imformation, but also to spread it for the betterment of all and sundry.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Modou Lamin Manneh called the Integrated Movie Industry (IMI) when it was launched in June 2004. He went on to speak about various activities that the organisation has been involved in since its inception.

The imcoming chairman Dodou Gomez pointed out that the outgoing chairman had worked very hard with members of his executive to set the pace.

“As the incoming chairman, my philosophy will be to continue the progressive development already outlined. I will make sure that we uphold the vision of this organisation and work with our partners who also have a pivotal role to play,” he said.

He added that the incoming executive will also develop specific programmes for assisting the girl child, women and gender based organisations.

The secretary of state for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Malick Njie, has said that his department of state is doing everything to ensure that no child die of diabetes in this country.

SoS Njie was speaking yesterday at a press briefing organised by the department of state for Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It was held at the DOSH conference Hall in Banjul, ahead of the activities marking this year’s "World Diabetes Day" slated for Friday 14th November 2008, at the July 22 Square in Banjul. The theme for this year’s celebrations is "Diabetes in Children and Adolescents".

According to him, diabetes can affect children at any age, even toddlers and babies. He said his department of state wuld continue to play leadership role in the prevention of communicable and none communicable diseases in the country. "We are closely working with WHO, the Gambia Diabetes Association and other international organisations to support our endeavours. DOSH has identified a national body task with the responsibility for the control of diabetes in the country," he said.

He noted that over the years, they have been working with the National Nutrition Agency (NaNa), MRC and others, adding that with the support of their IEC unit, they have embarked on many sensitisation programmes on the mass media.

He challenged the media fraternity to continue their mass sensitisation of people about diabetes, disclosing that DOSH was ready to organise a series of workshops for journalists on diabetes and other related diseases. Dr Alieu Gaye, the president of the Gambia Diabetes Association, who also doubles as the chairman of the International Diabetes Federation for Africa region, said the greater prevalence of diabetes in The Gambia is found within the Greater Banjul Area.

According to him, they also intend to embark on more sensitisation programmes across the country. "One important group who develop diabetes are pregnant women, as 30% of pregnant women globally develop diabetes," he said. For his part, Dr Thomas Sukwa, World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in The Gambia, said the media plays a crucial role in creating mass sensitisation by providing airtime or space for interviews with experts in the field of diabetes.

"There is need to engage health and policy makers to change in support of diabetes through the power of their pens and the microphones. Promote and increase public awareness on the risk factors of disease," he urged the media practitioners. Other speakers at the ceremony included Salieu John of the Diabetes Association.

Dr Thomas Sukwa, the World Health Organisation representative in The Gambia, has revealed that WHO estimates has shown that more than 180 million people worldwide have diabetes, which is likely to double by 2030.

The WHO representative was speaking at a press briefing last Tuesday at the Department of State for Health conference hall in Banjul. According to him, in 2005, an estimated 1.1 million people died of diabetes.  He noted that almost 80% of the disease occurs in low and middle income countries.

“Almost half of the diabetes deaths occur in people under 70 years. 55% of this are women and the disease can increase by more 50% in the next 10 years without urgent action,” he added. The WHO representative further said that diabetes can affect children of any age, even toddlers. Globally, he went on, there are close to 50,000 children under the age of 15 years with type one diabetes.

“The type two diabetes has been reported in children as young as eight years old. The research has shown that the type two diabetes can be prevented by enabling individuals to lose 7-10% of their body weight and by increasing their physical activity to a modest level,” he added. Dr Sukwa further maintained that the WHO is doing all it can to prevent and control diabetes by providing scientific guidelines for prevention.

The traditional flag of  the 2008 National Youth Conference and Festival (NAYCONF) started its nation-wide tour on Monday.

The flag, which commenced its journey from the Banjul City Council, will tour

all the municipalities and regions in the country signalling the start of the

8th edition of the biennial youth event which is scheduled between December

16 to 24, in Farafenni, North Bank Region.

The Mayor of Banjul, Samba Faal, was the first to receive the travelling flag

which was accompanied by the secretary of state for Youth and Sports, Sheriff

Gomez, alongside  members of the National Youth Council.

From Banjul, the flag will proceed to Kanifing Municipality before heading to

the various regions starting from Western Region. This year’s event is

expected to gather over 1,500 young people and stakeholders from The Gambia

and the subregion to share experience and dilate on issues that affect their

lives.

The week-long event, which is organised under the auspices of the  department

of state for Youth and Sports, is also another avenue for the grooming of

young talents in different sporting disciplines.

Mambanjick Njie, permanent secretary, Department of State for Youth and Sport, has said that the biennial National Youth Conference and Festival (NAYCONF) is an Act of parliament and thus must be treated as a national event.

He has also said that the issue of youth empowerment and development has taken the centre stage under the present administration and can no longer be compromised.

The youth and sports permanent secretary made these remarks last Wednesday at the  Lower River Region governor’s office in Mansakonko during a stakeholders consultative meeting with local authorities as part of preparations for the 2008 Nayconf.

Momodou Katim Touray, deputy governor of Lower River Region described the consultation as a vital. He thanked the organisers of the meeting for their pragmatism and commitment to the development of the young people.

Other speakers included Alagie Kebbeh, chairman of the National Youth Council; Momodou OS Touray, regional education officer, region four; and Pamalick Ceesay, executive officer of the National Youth Council.

Speking ahead of the meeting, the chairman of UNESCO Clubs and Centres, Mr. Muhamed Fayinteh, spoke at length on the importance of the meeting. He said that the meeting is timely as the farmers are now at a time of harvest. He further stated that alfatoxin is a mycotoxin, produced by aspergillus flavus and aspergillus’ parasiticus fungi, which affects green legumes and cereal crops and can have a harmful effect on humans and animals.

He further added that ground nuts are the chief cash crop and are widely consumed by the majority of Gambians. He said that aflatoxins should be of great concern to each and every Gambian as it is in fact a poison.

For his part, the chairman of the National Allience for Youths in Conflict and Emergency, Mr. Fabakary Kalled, called for concerted efforts to be made to create awareness of the dangers of alfatoxin and possible prevention methods. He said that they are on a countrywide tour to sensitise all farmers on the dangers of alfatoxin and the possible ways to prevent alfatoxins.

The vote of thanks was given by the lady councillor of Bansang Ward Mrs. Amie Ceesay.

In promoting Gambian artists especially musicians, KBJ art conferences, in collaboration with Oko Drammeh multimedia, recently celebrated an art exhibition at the MJ Finance building in William Street, Banjul.

Briefing Journalists shortly after the exhibition, Mr Kabba Jarju, alias KBJ, a conference interpreter with the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, explained that art and languages are one and the same. He revealed that if we speak and understand one another, then there will be no trouble in the world.

Mr Jarju, who came from Bansang town in Central River Region and lived in abroad for a number of years, described the art exhibition as the first of its kind in the history of the Gambian art exhibition. He noted that art works from different parts of the world such as Tanzania, Rwanda etc are shown.

He added that the KBJ art promotion, in collaboration with Oko Drammeh multimedia, intends to take Gambian artists especially musicians to China, Rwanda and other countries in December 2008, for many more international art exhibitions and performances. The trip will be sponsored by KBJ conferences and will take along some Gambians artists like Njogu Touray of Shkura Arts in Latrikunda German and others.

Speaking earlier, Mr Oko Drammeh the veteran of multimedia, expressed their intention to empower women, children and the youth of this country.

Mr. Drammeh went on to say his main objective is to make Banjul city into a cultural tourist capital. Noting that plans are already on the way and that we will work closely with BCC in Banjul. He said Banjul has a history of art and music that will be maintained. He described Banjul as a historical and intellectual capital which needs more tourists for more development projects in the art and music industries.

As I noted at the start of these meetings, the drive to address climate change won’t work if it’s seen as a rich man’s club. It is very important to have developed and developing country ministers at the table so that the developing country voices can be heard.  

The Bali Breakfast builds on an initiative taken by Indonesia at the time of the U.N. meeting on Global Climate Change. I hope this will become a regular meeting of development and finance ministers at the Annual and Spring Meetings to discuss climate change issues. We will be following up to help developing countries integrate adaptation and mitigation strategies into their development plans.

Before these meetings I outlined priorities that I believe can help meet immediate needs while also paving the way for a more inclusive and sustainable globalization.  

One of these was how we can help countries manage and transform their natural resource wealth into long-term economic growth that spreads the benefits more fairly among their people. I am very pleased that yesterday we launched the EITI++ initiative and that Guinea and Mauritania have asked for our assistance in piloting this approach. I am encouraged by the early support of African institutions, and some NGOs with a strong record in this area. This initiative is an important step toward reversing the resource curse.  

I also outlined a One Percent Solution to build equity investment in Africaso that it can become a complementary growth pole in 10-15 years, just as China, India, and others are complementary poles today.  The allocation of even 1% of the assets of Sovereign Wealth Funds to equity investment in Africa could draw $30 billion to African growth, development and opportunity. I am pleased that we have had very positive feedback on this idea and are following up in discussions with Sovereign Wealth Funds. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is discussing a number of possible approaches: investing alongside IFC in projects, investing in multi-country funds, or in joint ventures.  

Let me now turn to the food crisis.  I came into these meetings underscoring the vital importance of launching a New Deal for Global Food Policy. Part of that New Deal is meeting the immediate crisis needs of those who are now facing hunger, malnutrition, and even starvation across the world. Throughout the week-end we have heard again and again from Ministers in developing countries and emerging economies that this is a priority issue.  

As we assembled, Prime Minister Brown of the United Kingdom released a letter that he sent to Prime Minister Fukuda, the host of the G-8 Summit, calling for combined international action on food. This weekend, President Yudhoyono of Indonesia sent U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and me a letter pressing for the same.  

I am pleased that today at the Development Committee Ministers have endorsed the New Deal, and that they also called on donors to fill the $500 million feeding gap identified by the World Food Program.  

I also welcome the decision that high commodity prices and their impact on growth and development will be a topic for the G8 Finance Ministers in Japan in June. This is important and can help build towards that New Deal.  

But, frankly speaking, the G8 meeting is in June and we cannot wait for that.

We have to put our money where our mouth is now – so that we can put food into hungry mouths. It is as stark as that.  

Just yesterday, we saw that the Government of Haiti fell. While I know that President Preval is committed to continuity and stability, and will maintain his focus on economic and social development, this just underscores the importance of quick international action. We are granting an additional $10 million to Haiti for feeding programs, and I understand others are looking to help.                 We are also responding in a number of other countries with conditional cash transfer programs, food for work, planting for the new season, and we are looking at how we can step up that support as part of short-term and medium term actions.

The World Food Program has asked countries to respond to its appeal for $500 million by May 1st and it has received indications of commitments for almost half of the money it requires. But that is not enough. It is critical that governments confirm their commitments as soon as possible, and others begin to commit. Prices have only risen further since WFP issued that appeal, so it remains urgent that governments step up.

But it is also critical that we push ahead with more medium term actions to make agriculture a priority.

Based on a rough analysis, we estimate that a doubling of food prices over the last 3 years could potentially push 100 million people in low income countries deeper into poverty. This is not just a question about short term needs, as important as those are. This is about ensuring that future generations don’t pay a price too. Hunger, malnutrition and food policy have formed a recurrent theme at this weekend’s meetings, and I believe that we have made progress. But it will be important to continue to retain the focus on this as we leave Washington.  

I would like to thank Chairman Carstens for his leadership and support, and Dominique Strauss-Kahn for being an excellent partner as we seek to overhaul these institutions at a time of international economic challenge. I would also like to thank the many hard-working individuals of the World Bank Group for their excellent efforts, not only for these meetings, but for their contributions every day.

The theme of this year’s conference is Biography of the late Sheikh Ahmad Tijan Dem of Kaolack.

It will be characterised by a recitation of the holy Quran and prayers for the Gambia and Senegal.

According to Serign Kabir Dem, the conference will start in the morning with a recitation of the holy Quran at Jawara Kunda in Dippa Kunda which, will be followed by the conference during the afternoon at Sheraton Hotel.

Serign Dem added that the conference is dedicated to His Excellency the President of the Republic Alhagie Yahya Jammeh whiles the Vice President, Speaker of the National Assembly, Secy. Ismaila Sambou, Secy. Fatou Lamin Faye, Mr. Baboucarr Boye of Education Department and Mam Saihou Mbye of SSHFC who is also the father of Dairatul Jokaleh.

Born in the village of Kubuneh, Kombo North in the year 1918, Sheikh Amdad Tijan Dem, son of the late Momodou Ceesay Dem is a well-recognised Islamic scholar whose contributions to national development and the development of Islam cannot be over emphasised.

“He was a member of two families in the Gambia and was born at a time when his late father left Senegal and came to the Gambia”, Serign Dem said.

He added, “His father was called Momodou Ceesay Dem and was well recognised for his invaluable contribution in Islam most especially in his village of Kubuneh”.

Serign Dem went further to invite all lovers of Serign Ahmad Tijan Dem to come forward and attend the conference at the Sheraton Hotel on Friday as a detail information about his background will be said on the occasion.