By: Haruna Kuyateh
Medical Research Council (MRC) The Gambia, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in collaboration with the Government of the Gambia Wednesday organised an open day forum on ETVAX STUDY project dubbed as a vaccine trial study focus on diarrhoea diseases to see the safety and efficacy of the ETEC vaccine.
The program aimed at building a stronger partnership between MRCG at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Community and the Government of the Gambia.
The event was held in Farafenni, North Bank Region.
Abdoulie Jarju, Regional Health Director for North Bank East Health Region in Farafenni thanked MRC for complementing Ministry of Health in the attainment of quality health care, noting that the past results demonstrated MRC invaluable support to the health sector.
He called on the communities and health facilities to closely work with the team to ensure proper health care needs of the population and most importantly children less than 5 years.
Dr. Jahangir Hossain of MRCG gave an overview of the ETVAX trial project which aimed to protect children from disease and improve health of children between 6 to 18 months.
He disclosed that diarrhea contributes 9% of death among children less than 5 years registered in The Gambia.
According to him, the program was earlier conducted in URR and CRR and the rolling up of program.
The study intend to enroll 4,936 children aged 6 to18 months in four vaccination sites ( Kerewan, Ngain Sanjal, Noo Kunda and Farafenni.
Musa Kanteh Deputy Governor NBR assured them that the Governor office would provide much needed support on the implementation of the vaccine trial.
He tasked people of the region to support this noble crusade and as well called on parents to ensure compliance of the project to protect children from diarrhea.
Bakary Jammeh representative of Chief of Upper Badibou commended the community engagement strategies adopted by MRCG, by engaging key stakeholders at Regional and district levels to attain success on the project.
He quickly re assured them of district authority fullest support on the execution of the vaccine trial to avert diarrhoea among the children.
Alh. Bakary Darboe and Nyima Trawally a Nurse at ETVAX vaccine trial dilated on the importance of community involvement and field activities on the project.
Dr. Fatou Secka, Abdlie Cham Head of Communication at MRCG and Lamin Bondi Principal Nurrsing Officer at Farafenni General Hospital all made remarks at the event.