The Health Education Promotion and Development Organisation (HEPDO), formerly the Association of Youths Against Malaria (TAYAM), on Friday, concluded a week-long mass bednet dipping exercise in the Western Health Region.

The exercise, which was part of the organisation's objective to drastically reduce malaria cases in The Gambia, targeted 35,000 conventional bednets.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer at the end of the exercise, Mr Omar Ceesay, the acting executive director of HEPDO, described the exercise as successful, since 80% of the targeted figure was achieved.  An indication of another major achievement, according to Mr Ceesay, was the fact that many people in the region turned out to have their bednets dipped.

"This was mainly due to adequate sensitization in the region by the organisation.  As a result, many people were able to come out for dipping compared to last year, when [only a] few people turned out for dipping as a result of inadequate sensitization," the HEPDO director narrated.

On constraints encountered during the exercise, Ceesay pointed out the unprecedented rainfall, which he said hampered their efforts to dip more bednets.
"But nonetheless, our team of compassionate health workers were able to overcome such constraints," he said.

Mr Ceesay then expressed his organisation's resolve to disseminate educative messages relating to the prevention and control of not only malaria but other health promotion and development issues as well.