Responding to the Ministry of Health’s request for support to strengthen contact tracing and surveillance of COVID-19 in The Gambia, UNFPA on 15 April 2020 presented 10 motorcycles, helmets and other equipment to the Ministry of Health.
At a brief handing-over ceremony held at the Health Ministry’s grounds, the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh expressed government’s appreciation of UNFPA’s support to the country’s development agenda and particularly the current support to the National COVID-19 Response Plan.
According to Dr. Samateh, “these motorcycles and other equipment will go a long way in enhancing contact tracing during these COVID-19 times.” He went on to highlight that UNFPA has been standing by the government and people of The Gambia for the last four decades.
“We recognise the work being done by UNFPA especially in the area of strengthening continuity of delivering essential sexual, reproductive, maternal and new-born health care services. The recent renovation of the theatre at the Essau District Hospital is one such example” said Dr. Samateh.
Since the announcement of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in The Gambia, there has been a need to keep the public informed, and ensure surveillance efforts are strengthened. This has been ongoing and the Ministry of Health continues to receive support from its partners to deliver this.
The Health Minister also used the opportunity to reassure Gambians that his Ministry and its partners are working very hard to contain COVID-19 in the country.
On his part, UNFPA The Gambia Country Representative, Mr. Kunle Adeniyi emphasised that the items will facilitate active contact tracing which is key to the containment of COVID-19 in The Gambia. According to him, “early detection and isolation of cases is critical in the effort to interrupt the transmission of the Coronavirus in communities.”
Mr. Adeniyi went on to add that, “as one of many collective efforts by the UN to support the immediate response, UNFPA provided these motorcycles for surveillance and contact tracing in our communities with a view to limiting human-to-human transmission and ultimately returning us to our normal way of life as soon as possible.”
UNFPA and the wider UN system in The Gambia continue to work with the government and partners to contribute towards the fight against COVID-19 through identified strategic priorities.
The Country Representative expressed UNFPA’s commitment to accompany the government and people of The Gambia through the process of battling COVID-19. “We will especially continue investing in efforts that will keep vulnerable people including women, young people and adolescents protected from COVID-19 and also ensure the continuity of essential health services, including antenatal care and family planning services.”
He his remarks by calling on all partners to support the Government’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus and the effect on the nation by adhering to the guidelines on handwashing and social-distancing among others issued by the Ministry of Health and WHO.
Media contact:
Haddy Jonga
Programme Analyst - Communications, UNFPA The Gambia
