Officials of the Ministry of Health in partnership with Banjul City Council have declared ‘war’ against mosquitoes during a ceremony in Banjul where a fogging machine was handed to the council in its fights against malaria. 

Public health officials will be conducting a daily routine to inspect houses and places in the city for spraying. This scheme will be rolled out in other parts of the country.

Speaking during the handing over ceremony in Banjul, Minister of Health Dr Ahmadou Samateh said: “To be part of this set of activities which is the launching of the fogging machine that is supposed to spray the city of Banjul and other villages and towns in the country to get rid of mosquitoes and other flying insects.”

“We have known the mortality and mobility caused by malaria in our communities. Malaria is responsible for a lot of deaths in The Gambia but in our children and in adults. 

“Of recent, we have seen a spike in the incidence of malaria across the length and breadth of the country which is usual after heavy rains.”

According to him, when the manager of Malaria Control Programme informed him of the initiative, he asked him to go to the councils and engage them about the issue, adding “because every city has a leadership and we must respect that leadership and we must work with them.”

Dr Samateh described the launch of the fumigating machine to have come at the right time when the coronavirus infection continued raging across the globe.

Representing the mayor of Banjul, deputy mayor Omar B.J Touray, welcomed the gesture and thanked authorities at the Ministry of Health.

“We will be very excited to see this programme become a successful one. All Banjulians in their hearts appreciate this thing from your ministry,” he said.

He described malaria disease as a very dangerous disease, adding it doesn’t spare anyone from its infection.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba