The Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) in The Gambia last Saturday joined the rest of world to commemorate World Malaria Day at the Arch 22 in Banjul.

Speaking at the occasion, Mbye Njie, a senior officer at the National Malaria Control Programme, said that in The Gambia, malaria remains to be a major public health challenge and is the probable cause of 4% of infant deaths.

“Malaria is a deadly mosquito borne disease resulting from the multiplication of malaria parasites within red blood cells causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache in severe cases progressing to coma and death,” he stated. According to him, worldwide, an estimated 300 to 500 million cases of malaria are contracted every year, resulting in up to about one million deaths, mostly among the very young.

He disclosed that WHO hailed the global progress in combating malaria but highlights the need to further reinforce the fight. He added that WHO’s new initiative urges malaria endemic countries and donors to move towards universal access to diagnostic testing and anti-malarial treatment and to build robust malaria surveillance systems. 

“Sustaining malaria control efforts is an investment in development. Continuedmalaria control now will propel malaria-endemic countries toward near-zero deaths by 2015 and achieving the millennium development goals, especially those relating to improving child survival and maternal health, eradicating extreme poverty and expanding access to education,” he noted.

Njie further stated that The Gambia will continue to consolidate gains made in malaria control and prevention and work towards achieving the strategic goal of malaria pre-elimination by 2015.He noted that commemorating Word Malaria Day willprovide them with the opportunity to increase advocacy and support for malaria control and prevention.

On behalf of the Ministry of Health and the programme manager of the NMCP, he thanked YMCA for also joining hands with the Ministry of Health and other partners to celebrate this important day.

For his part, Joseph Peacock of the YMCA thanked all those who participated in the 5km race and walk from Denton Bridge to the Arch 22 in Banjul.