By: Yunus S Saliu
As people of The Gambia and Senegal gathered in Kerr Ali, Farafenni in the North Bank Region, on Tuesday, 13th May 2025 for a joint launching of the 2025 Senegambia Mass Insecticide Treated Bed Net distribution campaign, the Gambia Health Minister disclosed that 1.6 million insecticide-treated bed nets will be distributed to the general population across all regions of the country.
Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh enunciated that “Over the next course of four weeks or more, over 5 million New Generation of Insecticide Treated Nets will be distributed at the community level, free of charge, to the populations of the two countries. These new nets have a greater impact against malaria and could lower the disease burden than the standard pyrethroid-only nets.” From the 5 million nets, he disclosed, “The Gambia will distribute 1.6 million to the general population across all regions of the country.”
The launching is not only a significant milestone for the two great countries but “It also represents the Senegalo-Gambia fraternal relationship that extends to improve the health and wellbeing of its population through joint collaborative efforts such as this synchronized mass ITN distribution campaign and the health for peace initiatives.
With great joy, Dr. Samateh thanked the gathering saying “We thank you all for honouring our invitation to attend this historic and unique event while noting that “Launching of the 2025 synchronized mass distribution of ITNs is the third one in a series of campaigns since 2019.” This amplified the commitment of both governments and the laudable achievements made on the malaria cross-border collaboration initiative since its establishment in 2018 by the two Ministries of Health, he noted.
However, he reminded participants from the two countries about the fragility saying lesson gains in malaria control are fragile particularly when “we divert our attention, the disease resurges, taking its greatest toll on the most vulnerable population. But with strong political commitment, sustained investment multisector action, and community engagement, malaria can be defeated.”
Investing in malaria, the Minister said, “is about saving lives and reaping far-reaching benefits for our beloved countries. Sustaining malaria control efforts is an investment in development. Continued investment in malaria control will propel malaria-endemic countries towards zero deaths by 2030 and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to improving child survival and maternal health.”
Dilating on the campaign slogan for this year’s Bed Net distribution campaign – Mosquitoes Know No Borders: I have My Insecticide Treated Net, I tie It, I sleep Under It, Dr. Samateh reassured that “together, we should ensure that the nets reach all our people and promote the life-saving practice of sleeping under these nets by every family member, young or old, every night and every season of the year.”
However, on his part, the Senegal Minister of Health and Social Action, Professor Ibrahima Sy said the ceremony embodies the shared vision of His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and His Excellency President Adama Barrow, as they determined to build sovereign and dynamic solidarity in the fight against malaria. “Also it marks a vital mobilization of all stakeholders involved in the elimination of this disease, which remains a public health challenge.”
He, therefore, expressed his sincere and warm thanks to His Excellency President Adama Barrow for his unwavering commitment to mobilizing his government and all institutions for a strengthened, dynamic, sovereign, and equitable partnership “with our country demonstrating his determination to effectively combat malaria. Together, we reaffirm our shared desire to eradicate this scourge by 2030.”
Recognizing the collaboration, Professor Sy said “This partnership between our two states has profoundly strengthened our cooperation and consolidated our shared commitment to the fight against malaria. Also, it enriched our collaborative experience, enabling a more effective and coordinated approach to this health challenge. The synchronization of our efforts in the cross-border area today constitutes an exemplary model of health cooperation, which must be documented and promoted, in order, to accelerate the elimination of malaria on a sub-regional and even continental scale”
However, he pointed out that the Senegal President, His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye emphasized, in most of his speeches, “the strength of the historical and fraternal ties that unite our two nations. These ties constitute the foundation for ever-stronger integration and a renewed commitment to concerted action, particularly in the health sector.”
The Senegalese Health and Social Action Minister affirmed that the 2022 insecticide-treated mosquito net distribution campaign was, in many ways, a remarkable success. “Our two nations collaborated closely, synchronizing each key step of the process, making it possible to provide our communities with more than eight million mosquito nets.”
For the 2025 edition, he said, Senegal is taking a new step forward with the digitalization of the campaign, which is this year’s major innovation. This progress is fully in line with the vision of His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who declared, at the launch of the New Technology Deal digital strategy, and he quote:
“Digital technology is an essential tool for strengthening sovereignty and stimulating economic prosperity in Senegal.”
Subsequently, different dignitaries and officials of CRS Gambia and Senegal, WHO, PATHEL among others delivered speeches at the launch of the Mass Distribution Campaign for Insecticide-Treated Mosquito Nets 2025.
