By: Sering Mass Jallow
An association of public health professionals Wednesday conducted another phase of its routine supportive activity initiative in Yundum, aimed at strengthening community-based public health interventions.
The Western One Public Health Officers Association, a sub-association of public health professionals carried out the exercise which was focused on several key public health activities, including defaulter tracing, food inspection, disease surveillance, compound inspections, environmental assessments and active case searches.
The day-long initiative brought together public health students from the University of The Gambia and the University of Education, public health professionals from the Yundum Health Post, as well as representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Participants were divided into groups to conduct various field activities within Yundum and surrounding communities.
The activities included inspections of household hygiene and environmental conditions, active searches for suspected cases of communicable diseases, inspection of food stalls and shops, and checks for expired food products, particularly canned goods.
The teams also conducted inspections of business premises and carried out child immunisation and vitamin supplementation activities targeting children aged five years and below.
The field exercise began in Yundum and extended to communities along the coastal road towards Tawuto Village.
At the conclusion of the exercise, participants reviewed data collected during the field activities to identify gaps, assess progress and determine areas requiring further public health interventions in Yundum and surrounding communities.
Senior officials of the association described the initiative as an important component of their efforts to improve hygiene and sanitation, strengthen disease prevention and control measures, and promote a healthier environment for residents.
They said continued community-based interventions were essential to addressing public health challenges and improving health outcomes in communities across the country.