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SRI LANKA: Livelihoods at risk as tourism sector slides

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:50:35 GMT

Saturday, November 22, 2008

COLOMBO Thursday, October 09, 2008 (IRIN) - Sri Lanka's struggling tourism industry - hard hit by the conflict between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and government forces, and with security concerns increasing in Colombo, the capital - is banking on the island's traditional attractions to lure tourists back again. Government and industry officials have renewed promotional campaigns marketing a varied assortment of attractions, including safaris tracking wild elephants,...

Source: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=80833

Tourisphare: Tendaba camp, Western Region

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:26:31 GMT

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The Gambia, one of the smallest nations on the face of the earth, is a paradise of peace and tranquility. This is the bedrock that enables our environment to be a probable tourist paradise with all the characteristics, traits, trappings and nomenclature of a vibrant tourism industry. I strongly believe that our tourism sector could be further expanded and promoted to reach higher heights.

On this week’s Tourisphere, I journeyed some eighty miles from Brikama to Kiang Kwinella before I travelled another seven miles to Tendaba in Western Region. At Tendaba, there is a place called Tendaba Camp. It is a tourist resort located at the edge of the River Gambia. It has unrivelled natural appeal, filled with plenty of wildlife, birds, trees and a view of the River Gambia that I have never seen before.

At Tendaba Camp, you will be exposed to a mix and blend of both conventional and traditional taste of living. This is due to the manner in which their rooms are designed, in the layout of the resort and the service on offer. The reception area is magnificent with an African beat complemented by a state of the art satellite disc and receiver where you can virtually see all that is happening in the rest of the world. Plans are at the advanced stage to get an Internet connection for this camp for the use of their numerous visitors.

The view from the camp is absolutely breathtaking with mangroves in the undergrowth and there is a beautiful GSM antenna up the hills for easy network. On the shoreline you can see the village mosque and fish market. A stone’s throw from the camp there is a boat rental service named after a town in Zambia called Bulawayo.

There is life in this tiny village housing Tendaba Camp and you can see children playing on the streets and river. With a rented boat you can cross from Tendaba to Baddibou Salikenneh, Baddibou Nokunda or Baddibou Kachang.

There are 175 rooms in this camp, The room service is absolutely great as there is routine spraying of all rooms, so no hiding place for any mosquito. The rooms are all equipped with showers and mosquito nets and the ventilation is great. There is 24hrs electricity with each room fitted with a ceiling fan. It is a great place to be and visit.

Are you looking for a slice of rural Gambia with a touch of western feeling? Then Tendaba Camp is the place to be. There is also a swimming pool, a bar and restaurant, two conference centres to name but a few.

The Grill parlour at Tendaba Camp is in area right at the edge of the river, some twenty-five meters from the open reception area. This grill parlour is naturally appealing with a beat of uninterrupted fresh air coming from the River Gambia. The traditional grill machine is beautifully placed so that you can hang a whole goat or sheep as the fire plays it part in getting the meat grilled slowly but surely as the night goes by.

Mr Sarjo Touray is the manager and proprietor of this magnificent place. This is a man I have great respect and admiration for. The simple reason is he is down to earth, rurally inclined and dynamic in his management.

As Gambians, we should be proud of the likes of Mr Touray as he and his crew are out there supporting our tourism industry. They are giving visitors an experience that they never receive elsewhere. The magnificent services and attention we give to these tourists is what keeps them coming. A visit to Tendaba Camp by a tourist will have a lasting impression on him/her for a long time. The likes of Tendaba Camp are very few in the Gambia.

This country needs role models for our future leaders and the likes of Touray are indeed unsung heroes who need to be brought to the fore for national attention and emulation.

It is one thing to have a great peace and the potentials to be a great tourist haven but we must get the infrastructure to support our tourism expansion and ambition. In Tendaba, in Bao Bolong, we have but a few Gambian-owned small but strategic resorts that go a long way in complementing our tourism development and expansion needs.

We must keep, preserve, support for the development of Gambian-owned businesses and enterprises. Good luck to the good and ambitious Gambians in all walks of life. I must say I respect these people creating employment and paying salaries to our brothers and sisters as it is good and godly to work but better if you are able to make things happen by giving jobs and saving lives.

Author: by Yunus S. Saliu

More Koriteh messages for Jammeh

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:18:47 GMT

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

President Jammeh continues to receive more goodwill messages at State House, days after celebrations marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

In the latest message addressed to the Gambian leader, Mr Kebba EA Touray, former National Assembly member for Illiassa constituency, wished President Jammeh peace and prosperity, acknowledging his continued efforts to assist needy Muslims during the Holy Month.

The message read: The Holy Month of Ramadan urges all Muslims to render humanly assistance to needy fellow Muslims. Thanks to Almighty God, for the needy Muslims, you have since 22nd July 1994 embarked on this noble and religious demand by providing rice, sugar and food to most Muslims in The Gambia.

The entire Gambian Muslim community have openly witnessed your gigantic stride in helping humanity from hunger, disease and the promotion of Islam in The Gambia, since you assumed the mantle of leadership, 14 years ago.

In honour of this great Holy Month of Ramadan, in which all abiding Muslims are rewarded by God alone for all their good works, I wish to extend my sincere congratulation to your Excellency and family, and also to express sincere gratitude for the wonderful development you have brought to the people of The Gambia, helping Muslims of The Gambia to live in peace and prosperity.

May Almighty Eternal God grant you long life, good health, peace, and prosperity to enhance your rule in The Gambia for many years to come.

May Almighty God grant you good health, knowledge, wisdom and power to continue the traditional treatment you started, from which many Muslims are benefiting.

Please, accept the assurances of my highest consideration.

Author: DO

Stakeholders Deliberate on Musawah

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:05:31 GMT

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Stakeholders in the country on Friday took part in a one-day national consultative meeting at the Head office of the Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices (Gamcotrap) in Bakau.

The forum was meant to introduce the participants to Musawah (equality).

According to Dr.Isatou Touray, Executive Director Gamcotrap, Musawah is a global movement for equality and justice in the Muslim family. Its overall goal she said, is to provide support for national and regional initiatives that are pushing for equality and justice in Muslim family laws and practices by sharing information, tools and analysis of justifications for reform and by ensuring visibility on the issues.

Musawah she said declares that change is necessary because many Muslim family laws and practices are unjust and do not respond to the lives and experience of Muslim families and individuals. She stated, “Musawah declares that change is possible through a framework of equality and justice that is consistent with Islamic teachings, universal human rights principles, fundamental rights and constitutional guarantees and the lived realities of women and men today”.

She revealed that the movement and its declaration of practices will be launched at a global meeting to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in February 2009.

Other speakers at the meeting included Dr. Omar Jah, Aja Maimuna Savage, Imam Baba Leigh and Mrs. Adelaide Sosseh Gaye. They both welcomed the initiative and principles of Musawah. Speakers also acknowledge the various forms of injustice that women are facing in our societies, which thus calls for change.

Hon. Sidia Jatta, board chairperson of Gamcotrap advised women to seek for knowledge. He described knowledge as the fundamental tool to effect change. He asserted, “Change is brought by people who are committed, courageous, determined, sincere and organised”.

Author: Nfamara Jawneh

We Don’t Have to Cure Disease

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:01:13 GMT

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Gambia

’s celebration of ‘Traditional Medicine Day’ , initiated by the World Health Organisation, is a gesture to be resoundingly applauded. In this celebration we can see a new development which, if sustained, can yield high dividends in the vital areas of personal health and national development.

If, say, conventional and traditional health practitioners converge and work together, chances are that new medical discoveries would result, and help the global struggle for the elimination or reduction of disease.

For while it is true that medical science has made some strides especially in modern times, it is also true that traditional medicine has not gone without its successes, many of which have been achieved in relatively much less time. With traditional medicine it is possible to cure diabetes and high blood pressure in the space of a few weeks, while some other conditions such as ulcers, piles,gynecological and skin problems can he cleared in a matter of only days. Of course it should be borne in mind that it takes conventional medicines a much longer time to treat, and sometimes unsuccessfully. Therefore why don’t we cash in on traditional medical experience to gain mutual benefits? Together, conventional and traditional medicine can produce what either cannot achieve independently.

It is our point, however, that in our endeavor to achieve good health individually and as a nation, greater attention should be given to preventative methods. In this we are already fortunate that through research the causes of most diseases are already well known. We should then begin to utilize that knowledge to include preventative health, widespread public education and awareness programmes and campaigns.

This way we do not have to spend lots of time and resources in curing diseases.

We don’t have to cure disease – we only need to prevent it!

Reactions of Traditional Healer

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:24:38 GMT

Friday, September 19, 2008

“I feel great happiness and contentment about the current wave of recognition of African traditional medicine and that the biggest world body on health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is celebrating it and encouraging government for its inclusion in national health plans.

Such collaboration between Western and Traditional medicine, I can say, has been long overdue if we consider the fruitful results and immense benefits that can and should flow from it. So I congratulate the WHO and all those willing to give support and partnership to this medical and health endeavour.

This is good news because it will soon be discovered that whereas conventional medicine takes effect after a long period, most traditional African treatment take a relatively much shorter time or even three days. How this works, is what I hope we can all begin to discover together. In traditional medicine, we can find genuine and effective remedies for diabetes, ulcer, piles, hypertension, reproductive problems and many more. And all cures are workable within a short period of days. Research is also good to keep everyone up to date and for application purposes.

We should however not forget in this partnership the importance of Preventive medicine. We should watch the things we eat or drink. These should be clean, hygienic and healthy in every way. They should also be well prepared. In the same way things that enter our bodies through the body’s openings should be watched. The air we breathe through the nostrils should not be polluted, contaminated and full of germs. We should avoid taking in through the nose any harmful substances, e.g. sniffing cocaine and other harmful products. We should avoid introducing through our skins things like needles for injecting in harmful drugs. We should not take in cigarette smoke or marijuana though the mouth. We should guard strictly against taking in sexually transmitted diseases such as syphillis, gonorrhea, and HIV/AIDS. This is the importance of prevention. As the saying goes, ‘Prevention is better than cure’ .My tradition also advocates strongly to prevent rather than later fight to cure a disease. Some of this prevention can also be avoided by regular exercise and avoiding unhealthy life-styles.

One of the things we lack is material and equipment we need to facilitate our work. For example, we cannot gauge the recovery rate of our diabetes patients. We always have to send them to a hospital for tests. I am sure this is one area in which traditional medicine can benefit in the proposed partnership of traditional and conventional health practitioners.

At times, there is need to keep a patient for a few days for treatment and observation. But we have no accommodation facilities or the appropriate feeding required. We need collaborative discussions and support in this area. Then we shall be able to achieve the type of ‘Synergy’ envisaged by the WHO and national governments.

In the PeoplesRepublic of China, India, and some other Asian countries, there are great big hospitals devoted to traditional medicine only. African countries should aspire to have similar facilities for the greater benefit of our populations for whom life expectancy is still comparatively low.

I wish to commend the WHO and our own Department of State for Health for promoting and spear-heading this programme”. Meanwhile Wagne could be reach on 7048814

Source: Picture: Serigne Momodou Wagne

WHO RD Speaks on Role of Traditional Healers

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:31:19 GMT

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

The Regional Director of the WHO recently spoke on the role of traditional health practitioners in primary health care. The full text of his speech is reprinted below.

Today we are celebrating the 6th African Traditional Medicine Day throughout Africa and reviewing progress on the Decade of African Traditional Medicine. The theme for this year is: “The Role of Traditional

Health Practitioners in Primary Health Care”. This theme is in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the Alma-Ata Declaration of September 1978 which advocated health for all and called upon countries to include Traditional Medicine in their health systems in line with the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach.

WHO organised the International Conference on PHC and Health Systems in Africa in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from 28th -to 30th April 2008, to celebrate 30 years of the Alma-Ata Declaration and create the momentum for revitalisation of PHC. The Conference reaffirmed the principles of the Declaration of Alma Ata, particularly in regard to health as a fundamental human right and the responsibility that governments have for the health of their people. WHO is also organising a congress on Traditional Medicine to be held in November 2008 in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China. The purpose of the Congress is to review the role of Traditional Medicine and its providers in health care in line with the PHC approach.

Traditional Health Practitioners are an important human resource in the provision of health care services throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They have been increasingly involved in research and development, and encouraging results are being documented for traditional medicines used for some priority diseases such as malaria, sickle-cell disease and diabetes. Their collaboration with practitioners of conventional medicine indicates best practices such as health care delivery, including earlier referral of patients to medical facilities, increased knowledge on sexually-transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, including prevention and community based directly-observed treatment short-course programmes in the control of tuberculosis. I would like to congratulate and call upon practitioners of the two systems of medicine who are already collaborating to intensify and co-ordinate their efforts and take action in a synergistic manner in strengthening the capacity of traditional health practitioners in PHC in order to build healthier African communities.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am happy to inform you that since the adoption, at the 15th session of the Regional Committee for Africa, of the Regional strategy on promoting the role of traditional medicine in health systems, over half of the countries in this region have formulated traditional medicine policies, developed traditional medicine regulations and established traditional medicine programmes in the ministries of health. The Traditional Health Practitioners Bill and Code of Ethics for the practice of traditional medicine should be part of national regulatory frameworks which are particularly important to protect the dignity, integrity and safety of patients.

I wish to call upon traditional health practitioners and their organisations to support implementation of the Ouagadougou Declaration on PHC by mobilising communities for health promotion and disease prevention. I also call upon them to collaborate with research institutes in order to assess, through rigorous scientific procedures, the quality, safety and efficacy of their products and to facilitate registration and patenting. I reiterate my appeal to governments, the private sector and partners to support scientific research into traditional medicines and practices to produce evidence on their effectiveness in combating disease. The support for documentation and protection of traditional medicine knowledge is also vital for use by future generations and for equitable sharing of resources and benefits.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

WHO shall continue to support countries to transform resolutions and declarations into realistic policies and plans for institutionalising traditional medicine in health systems as part of its commitment to health-for-all using the PHC approach, in collaboration with the African Union, and other committed partners and stakeholders. This collaboration is particularly important for the attainment of the expected outcomes of the plan of action of the Decade of African Traditional Medicine which will end in 2010.

Author: By Pa Modou Faal

Gambia To Celebrate African Traditional Medicine Day

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:05:53 GMT

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The National Traditional Medicine Programme at the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Association of Traditional Healers of The Gambia, will on the 31st of August celebrate African Traditional Medicine Day.

In a press release send to Health Matters yesterday, the manager of the National Traditional Medicine Programme at DOSH, Bubakar Sillah, stated that theme of this years celebration is “The Role of Traditional Healers in Primary Healthcare”.

Mr. Sillah stated that the Association of Tradition Healers of The Gambia have the honour and pleasure to associate themselves with the President Dr Yaya Jammeh in making this a special day in the calendar of traditional medicine, noting that since the association adopted President Jammeh as the father of traditional healers of The Gambia last year, Gambian and Non Gambian healers alike have witnessed tremendous advancements in the health care delivery system of traditional medicine. He said among the catalogue of his achievements in the realm of healthcare which the healers hail are the construction of an academy of science and technology, discovery of medicines for infertility, prostate cancer, skin cancer and a host of diseases.

He further stated that the recent graduation of Gambian doctors from the school of medicine and the exemption of mothers and infants from the payment of fees in health facilities are a clear demonstration of President Jammeh’s care for the health of Gambian and Non Gambians.

He pointed out that by virtue of the presidents untiring efforts in promoting traditional medicine the healers of The Gambia will once again use the opportunity of the commemoration of the day to reaffirm their allegiance to him as the father of traditional medicine and pledge their unflinching support to him in all his endeavours in nation building and the improvement of the wellbeing of humanity.

Author: By Pa Modou Faal

One Day Sensitization Programme on Traditional, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Kick Off

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:02:10 GMT

Friday, August 08, 2008

As part of Gamcotrap’s continued efforts to promote and protect children’s rights, a one day sensitization programme on traditional practices, sexual and reproductive health rights was organized for thirty five Alkalolu and their Chiefs from the kombos. The programme that was organized in partnership with save the children Sweden regional office based in Dakar, Senegal was facilitated through the office of the Governor of the Western region as a strategic entry point to reach the traditional rulers who are the custodian of traditional practices in the Gambia.

During the workshop recently at paradise suite hotel the Paramount Chief, Alhagie Demba Sanyang who is also the head Chief expressed gratitude to be part of this important programme since it is about issues dealing with the health of women and children.

In his keynote speech the Governor of Western region, Mr. Lamin Sanneh noted that it was indeed a great pleasure and honour to be accorded with the privilege to make the opening statement on the auspicious training of local government authorities on traditional practices, sexual and reproductive health and rights. “Children and women are the most important productive element of the economy therefore they deserve the protection of the state and its apparatus, local government authorities and society at large”, he emphasized. Different sessions were dealt, on session one it was about their expectations for the workshop, this session dwelt on capturing the expectations of the Chiefs and Alkalolu. Their expectations were focused on the need to gain more information and knowledge about children’s rights, and issues on female genital mutilation. Some touched on learning the future direction on women and children’s right. Most of them argued that the current debates about children’s rights are not clear to them and they hope that the workshop will give them the opportunity to learn more about the issues and what their role is. This discussion also centered on the importance that Gamcotrap attaches to working with traditional structures especially the Chiefs and the Alkalolu in the pursuit to the realization of its aims and objectives.

Session two was on child rights and principles, this presentation looked at the definition of what rights are and how people perceive the whole issue of children’s rights. The discussion touched on the needs of children and how the fulfillment of these needs relate to basic and indivisible rights of all children. The presentation also looked at the issue of protection as a fundamental aspect of children’s rights. Some of the critical issues raised included protection from harmful traditional practices i.e. FGM and early marriages, other issue highlighted include sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

On the comments, the Chiefs noted that the programme should be further strengthened to reach out to more people; they also acknowledged learning the truth and will offer their full support in the process. On his comment the Kartong Alkali said “the advocacy of Gamcotrap is difficult with challenges but there is hope for success”, he pledged the support of the Alkalolu on any resolution on children’s rights.

On the third session that was about Isam and religion was presented by Imam Baba Leigh and Muhammad Sanuwo, these two religious Scholars, talked about the religious perspective of culture and practices. They touched on the historical perspective of female genital mutilation and the point of contestation surrounding the practices of FGM.

The presentation also highlighted some religious misinterpretations and preaching by some religious Scholars who continue to have access to the media zith their pro FGM

propaganda. They gave a crystal clear religious explanation about male circumcision and female circumcision and concluded that there is no where it is prescribed for women in any divine religious text. After this session it was observed in their comments that the information they receive on the public radio is contrary to what they have heard in the workshop. They noted that the information from the workshop is correct and every citizen should have the right information to make the right choice for their children. They observed that the government should give access to organizations with the right information to promote positive development and enlighten the population using the radio. In the light of these observations the following suggestions were made:

v Religious leaders should come out and discuss the issues and the truth for people to get the right information.

v People have to look at those who talk on the media and who mandated them to talk on the Radio as pro FGM campaigners and that should be stopped.

v They highlighted the need for Gamcotrap to have access to the radio and discuss the issues of concern to the general public and they promised to look into the matter.

On session four: Components of reproductive health.

This session reported on the current situation regarding reproductive health and rights of women and children. It highlighted the increase in sexually transmitted diseases and the number of children affected. Participants were taken through the nine components of reproductive health which highlighted some very common household problems in relation to reproduction and the need to maintain and protect the health of women and children. Some of these include proper family planning procedures and safe motherhood practices to ensure the protection and maintenance of the health of women and children.

On session five: role of community leaders.

This was one of the most powerful sessions which evoked the sensitivities of the traditional decision makers and their role in various communities. For the Chiefs they cover a large jurisdiction in which several village heads exist. They lamented on the effects of lack of knowledge and the misconceptions which have been cleared by attending the workshop. Each of them made comments and the following represents the general ethos towards the fights against FGM and promoting children’s rights.

v To ensure that a law against FGM is put in place so as to help the Chiefs and Alkalolu effectively engage with the people. This will help the elimination of harmful traditional practices.

v To also engage and strengthen the capacity of the village development committees, in order to strengthen the advocacy at the community levels.

v The paramount Chief of the Gambia pronounced joining Gamcotrap and offered to support in the advocacy to eradication of FGM.

v All Chiefs and Alkalolu present at the workshop agreed to work together and protect the children. “Therefore we need one voice and come together to eradicate the practices.

v Gamcotrap should conduct similar programme with all the chiefs in the Gambia with their national assembly members in order to make more declarations against harmful traditional practices.

v The children’s act and the women’s bill should now be reinforced and this should

be advocated for.

Chief of Kombo Central Dembo Santang Bojang, in giving the vote of thanks commended Gamcotrap for providing knowledge to the community leaders in the midst of ignorance about the practices of FGM. As enlightened leaders they will engage with the people and the women to ensure that the practices stop.

For her part Aja Nyimansata Sanneh Gamcotrap board member also thanked the staff of Gamcotrap and community leaders through the paramount chief and the governor of western region. She noted that the empowerment of women cannot be truly realized without the attainment of good health for Gambian women and children. “Government is aware of the advocacy work to eradicate FGM. As community leaders {Chiefs and Alkalolu} they are aware of the cultural issues in the societies and with their support, the practice can be eradicated”. She urged the leaders to mobilize their communities and spread the knowledge gained.

Thank very much for your kind attention.

Author: By Sarata J-Dibba

Renowned Traditional Healer in Town

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:44:38 GMT

Monday, July 14, 2008

Alhagie Sidibeh, a renowned traditional healer, is currently in the country engaged in the treatment of various diseases using of pure traditional herbs.

Located at Fatou Camara’s compound near the Ebo town market, Alhagie Sidibeh is a specialist in traditional healing and has for many years cured a good number of people.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Point, Mr. Sidibeh noted that he cures eye problems of any kind, blindness, cataracts, yellow fever, impotency, piles, stomach-ache, back ache and frequent urinating among other diseases.

According to Mr. Sidibeh, impotency can be treated in three days and cataracts can be cured in not less ten minutes. Stomach-ache can be treated in one or not more than three days. Piles can be treated in less than one week. Frequent urinating can be treated in a period of one week.

Having engaged in the traditional healing business for a long period now, Mr. Sidibeh is described by many as one of the best traditional healers in the country today whose treatments last for a very short period of time.

For more information about his treatment procedures, Alhagie Sidibeh can be reached on the following numbers: Tel: 9874044, 7741557 or 6415730

Author: By Baboucarr Senghore

Source: Picture: Alhagie Sidibeh - (Friday, July 11, 2008 Issue)