The National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Programme of the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare on Tuesday began a two-day sensitization workshop for journalists on Tuberculosis prevention and control held at the Paradise Suites Hotel.

In his opening remarks, Mr Ismaila Njie, chief nursing officer, who deputized on behalf of Dr Malick Njie, SoS for Health and Social Welfare said, the aim of the sensitization workshop is to inform and empower journalists with the knowledge and skills in supporting policy issues in the prevention and control of Tuberculosis in The Gambia."I am pleased to inform you that diagnosis and treatment of TB in The Gambia is provided free of charge to all patients irrespective of nationality.

This clearly demonstrates government's committment to contain and eradicate the disease", he noted.

For her part, Mr Anna Able Thomos of the National Leprosy and TB Control Programme shed light into the causes ot TB, noting that a bacteria constitutes the main pathogen agent, not a virus. She then added that prophylactic measures need to be taken when any contamination occurs.