At least four journalists from various newspapers in the country are currently on a three-day tour of projects at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Basse Field Station, Upper River Region.

The trip is facilitated by the MRC Communications Unit and is aimed at informing people and showcasing the activities of MRC in the region, as well as promote collaboration between the MRC, the government and the community.

On their first engagement, the team visited the field station, where they were taken on a conducted tour of the facilities, including the laboratory. They were briefed on the activities of the lab, which focuses on research on bacteria and anemia, among others.

The station also undertook the Global Enteric Multi-side Study (GEMS), Pneumococcal Vaccine Trial (PVT), Pneumococcal Surveillance Project (PSP), and Demographic Surveillance Survey (DSS).

At a meeting held in his office, Governor Khan spoke of the inter-sectoral collaboration between the MRC and The Gambia government and highlighted numerous interventions of MRC in his region. He thanked MRC for coming up with such projects.

In Basse, the team was received by Omar Khan, the governor of URR and the administrative officers of MRC Basse Station. The meeting was attended by Lt Muhammed Jattta, the commanding officer at the Basse Military Barracks, as well as the commanding officers of other security services in the region.

In a similar engagement, the team held a meeting at the Basse Regional Health Office with the regional health officer, Mr Saikuna Sagnia, who also highlighted MRC's work in the region.