By Binta Jaiteh
Child fund The Gambia has shared 16,000 insecticide bed nets among three provincial regions, as Lower River Region got 4000, Central River Region received 5000 and Upper River Region 7000 during the presentation ceremony held at Brikama regional office.
Speaking at the ceremony, Musukuta Komma, country director for Child Fund The Gambia said the support came as her office commitment to compliment the work of the Ministry of Health towards zero elimination of malaria.
According to her, data shows that there are communities especially in the URR, CRR and LRR that can still consider to high prevalence of malaria because they are still struggling with malaria control and the health strategic plan calls for affordable access and health care services for all.
“Child Fund out of concern mapped out interest areas more of children and we also mapped out the under 5 mortality and mobility, which is still not acceptable if you compare it to other countries. Malnutrition and Malaria are contributing factors to childhood mobility knowing that very well child fund has divided our work into three main components which is life stage 1, 0 to five years, life stage 2, 6 to 15 years and life stage 3, 16 to 24 years,” she outlined them.
“However, we partner with Ministry of Health to make sure that we provide mosquito net long lasting insecticide net and considering the prevalence of the community. We did assessment and got feedback from the community. In complementing the effort of global fund who has been a long-time donor to the Ministry of Health in the provision of mosquito net to the vulnerable through mass campaign. We want this distribution to be at zero cost to the beneficiaries hence we show appreciation to the volunteer who show appreciation and sacrifice to work with Child Fund to supply 16,000 nets to the beneficiaries at zero cost. We except to see behavioural change,” she added.
Jeandarie Jarju Kujabi, official from Ministry of Health said the bed nets will enhance preventing malaria among vulnerable groups, adding that malaria is an illness that can lead to permanent impairment and even death.
“It can have an impact on the socio-economic development of a family and a country in general. The volunteers that are chosen to take part in this distribution have a big responsibility to play when it comes to SBCC in communicating to the public to make good use of bed net. Although bed nets are distributed but still people are reporting to our health facilities being positive of malaria. Research should be made to find out the reason behind the speeding of malaria,” she said
Global Fund representative, Bai Cham, thanked Child Fund for their support saying Global Fund will continue to work with Child Fund in ensuring that malaria is totally eradicated in the country.