BY: Salifu M. Touray
The Finalization of the draft document of the National Action Plan for Health Security in the Gambia is under way in Bwiam, Foni-Kansala District, West Coast Region.The Event held at Foni Ding Ding Bantaba Federation Lodge attracted over fifty (50) participants including all stakeholders such as Public Health Officers and other Allied Health Professionals, Security Personnel, NDMA, Livestock Services, University of The Gambia, etc.
The forum is organised by the Ministry of Health with funding fromthe World Health Organization Country Office. Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health in his opening statement described the National Action Plan for Health Security in the Gambia (NAPHS) seeks to establish and strengthen the core capacities of the health system.
According to Health Minister Samateh, the National Action Plan is comprehensive as well as multi-sectoral and that it is geared towards improving emergency response to Public Health threats in the Gambia.“The magnitude and frequency of disease outbreaks and health emergencies in Africa, the Expansion of known diseases like cholera, Ebola virus disease and Novel coronal virus, the re-emergency of others such as yellow fever and measles; and phenomena such as global warning, demonstrate the urgent need for sustained preparedness and capacity building in WHO member states,” he emphasised.
Dr, Samatehmaintained that a resilient health system in the wake of public health emergency would guarantee the continuation and consistent delivery of quality health services in the Gambia.
“We have make some achievements and progress from the inception of the International Health Regulation (2005) implementation in the Gambia. This includes the annual reporting on core capacities implementation, establishment of public Health Emergency Operation Centre (PHEOC) and as well the conduct of the Joint External Evaluation in September 2017,” he said.
Minister Samateh acknowledge that despite the progress achieved there are some challenges and they include the absence of written plans as well as the fragmented implementation and lack of consistency in reporting of events and of disease outbreak among others.
Dr, Buba Manjang, Ag. Director of Public Health Servicesat the Ministry of Health said the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) is the first of its kind in the Gambia.
Dr Manjang further indicated that the National Action Plan for Health Security in the Gambia focuses on 19 thematic areas including National Legislation and Policy, Financing, Food safety, Immunisation, Real time surveillance, Chemical and radiation Emergency, Risk Communication among others.
According to Dr Manjang, in 2017, a task force was constituted to look at the Joint External Evaluation adding that the excises also form part of the fulfilment of the International Health Regulatory system.
“The Gambia is not alone in this plan of activities as other countries too are also involved on similar activities like this one thus the need for the participants to take the five days retreat session with seriousness so as to enable the country achieves its goals with regard to the National Action Plan for Health Security in the Gambia,” he said.
Dr. Manjang disclosed that after the five days event in Bwiam the NAPHSdocument will further be subjected to costing and National validation.He noted that from there, the NAPHS document will behanded over to Government, donors and other development partners for possible funding of the various activities embedded in the National Action Plan for Health Security in the Gambia.
Bakary Sanneh, a Laboratory Scientist at the National Public Health Laboratories and a participant said the meeting is very important in the sense that it helps with the finalization of the development ofNational Action Plan for Health Security in the Gambia.
According to him, this meeting will help the country to mobilise and respond adequately to public health emergencies and outbreak and by extension it will also help the country to strengthen its health services to respond adequately in its responsibility to health and diseases,” he said
“This meeting will also help to facilitate the sharing of ideals to other line Ministries and partners in the context of One Health to achieve a better platform for the early detection and responds to disease outbreak,” he stated. He finally thank WHO for funding the five day meeting in Bwiam while urging them to keep supporting the Gambia.
