By Adama Makasuba
Officials of the ministry of health in partnership with officials of Banjul City Council have declared an indefinite ‘war’ against mosquitoes, as health ministry’s malaria control donated fogging machine to the city to help pray mosquitoes and flying insects in Banjul.
Public health officials will be conducting daily routine to inspect houses and places in the city for spraying. But this is believed to be expanded to other parts of the nation.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony in Banjul, Dr. Ahmadou Samateh, minister of health 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.”
He added: “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, adding: “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 program informed him of the initiative that he asked him to go 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.”
He 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 program be to a successful one. All Banjulians in their hearts appreciate this thing from your ministry,” he said., we are saying a big salute to you, “he said.
He described malaria disease as a very dangerous disease, adding it doesn’t spare anyone from its infection.
