The regional coordinator for the International Council for Iodisation of Deficiency Disease has commended The Gambia for the great strides made in eliminating iodised deficiency disease in the country.

Dr. John Egbuta made this remarks Wednesday during an interview with reporters at State House shortly after an audience with the vice president and minister of Women’s Affairs, Her Excellency Aja Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy.

He said that one of the core issues the government of The Gambia has fulfilled is to put in a legislation making it mandatory that every salt that comes into this country be iodised. “I think the government of The Gambia should be commended for what they have done in terms of commitment,” he added.

Dilating on the dangers of non-iodised salt, Egbuta pointed out that if we allow salt that is not iodised to come to the country, then, we are undermining the health of our children as well as their mental abilities.

“Iodised salt plays a key role in brain development and if the brain is not developed, one may not have good education. Therefore, there is need for a legislation to be put in place even though the people are using both local and imported salt,” he added.

ARIPO DG

VP Njie-Saidy also received in audience Gifth Sibanda, the director general of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), at her office at State House. ARIPO is an institution created to promote and develop intellectual properties within Africa. Sibanda was at State House to discuss with the vice president the initiatives of his organisation and the role the Ministry of Justice can play to help keep the institution running.

In an interview with reporters shortly after he met with the vice president, Sibanda disclosed that they discussed a lot of issues ,as The Gambia is one of the founding members of ARIPO. He said the vice president also applauded Ghana for playing a key role in the development of the institution, while assuring that the Ministry of Justice would also be tasked to contribute meaningfully to the development of the institution.

Highlighting some challenges faced by the institution, Sibanda revealed that the institution still lacks inventiveness, as well as lack good infrastructure.