The Regional health management team of Central River Region (CRR) today, Wednesday November 18, held a one day sensitisation for care givers, teachers, opinion leaders, women's groups, and youth groups on Malaria prevention and control, signs and symptoms, early ANC clinic attendance, use of treated bed nets and counselling at Ballangharr village in the Lower Saloum district CRR North.

 The sensitisation programme was founded by the global fund through the malaria control programme office. Musa Camara, representative of the regional health team, underscored the need for routine antenatal clinic visits for effective intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy. 

He assured the public that the new anti-malaria drug is safe and effective, saying introduction of the new drug will contribute effectively in addressing the high incidence of malaria morbidity and mortality by increasing community based management of the disease. Mr Camara emphasised the need for children and pregnant mothers to sleep under a treated bed net.

Ida Ceesay, CHN Senior tutor, seized the opportunity to commend efforts of the Global Fund for complementing the efforts of the Gambia Government to attain quality and affordable health services for all.  Mrs Ceesay urged both mothers and care givers to adopt what she called prompt and appropriate treatment of malaria at both home and community level within 24 hours on the set of the symptom.

Sarjo Sambou, community health nurse of the area, described home based management as an integral part of the overall malaria case management strategy which is aimed at improving access to treatment for malaria in areas with limited access to health facilities.