The deputy permanent secretary for Technical at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Makie Taal has been elevated to the position of permanent secretary at the said Ministry.

He replaces Momodou Lamin Ceesay, who was acting in the position. Ceesay has now been redeployed as deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment.

Dr. Taal studied in the United Kingdom. He has a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry, MSc in Molecular Pathology and Toxicology, PhD in Molecular and Structural Biology with emphasis on development of new-generation antibiotics to combat the global problem of antibiotic resistance.

He had worked in various healthcare institutions in UK and his last assignment before he returned home was at the Centre for Emergency Response and Preparedness under the Health Protection Agency in UK as a Senior Healthcare Scientist (Project Leader).

He resigned from this post and headed home to contribute his quota to national development. Following the setting up of the Directorate of National Public Health Laboratories and Directorate of Food Standards Quality Hygiene Enforcement, Dr. Taal became the director of the said unit before being appointed DPS for Technical at the Health Ministry.