By Binta Jaiteh
Sainey Sanneh, Director of Health Research under the Ministry of Health said mortality rate declined during the pandemic by 10.3 per 100,000 populations.
He made the revelation at a study programme conducted by the Ministry on the findings of maternal mortality at a gathering held at Kotu Medical Store.
“The rate of mortality in The Gambia over five years was found to be 191.9 per 1000,000 population and the mortality rate was higher among the males and the age group 45 years above particularly those above 65 years,” he said.
According to him, the regions with the highest mortality rates were Western 1 and Lower River region (LRR) respectively, adding with the lowest rate observed in Upper River region (URR).
“Nonetheless the age group early greatly affected during the pandemic yet an excess number of deaths were noted among both female and male in the second wave.
“However, during the first wave of the pandemic fetal complications (IUFDs), Sepsis COVID-19 and Cardiac failure were the main leading causes of death whereas second wave Stroke, Sepsis and Pneumonia constituted the greatest burden among cause of death recorded,” he added.
“To establish an estimate of access mortality from all causes during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as changes in mortality from January 2016 to June 2021 to generate baseline information in supporting the ongoing mortality surveillance in the Gambia. To estimate all-cause mortality for both health facility and community deaths in the Gambia, to calculate excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic by comparing before and during the pandemic,” he gave the breakdown.
Mr Sanneh described the differences in all-cause mortality between regions and demographics age and gender, determining the proportion of deaths over time and during the COVID-19 pandemic, disclosing “In our summary findings overall there has been a consistent and steady trend of all-cause mortality in the Gambia over the past 5.5-year period (2016-2021).”