The National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) on Friday organised a day's sensitisation workshop for journalists on malaria control and prevention at the NMCP head office in Kanifing.

The training which brought together journalists from both the print and the electronic media, was meant to update them on the malaria situation in The Gambia. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Balla Kandeh, deputy programme manager of the NMCP noted that it is important for journalists to be trained and disseminate the information to the general public. According to him, malaria is everybody's business and that it calls for partnership to share information and contribute to the fight. "We are proud to be associated with journalists in this country especially the health journalists, whom we have been working with since 2004. Their role is to keep the society informed  about new developments in the health sector," he remarked.

Aja Abby Khan, regional health director for Western Region, called for partnership with journalists and the community for easy flow of information on malaria issues. She urged journalists to investigate when dealing with information.

She went on: "Health is a priority of the president; therefore people should be informed with regards to health in an appropriate manner and to portray information accurately," she stated. Delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of the participants, Yorro Jallow of GRTS, said that the training is not only important to the participants but also to the entire populace. "We hope to continue collaborating with the NMCP and other institutions under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in the fight against malaria. The training is a step in the right direction and I hope it will continue," he concluded.