By Sarjo M. Camara reporting from New York
On the fringes of the SDG summit in New York, Vice President Mohammed B.S Jallow on 22nd September 2023 participated in the financing malaria press conference organised by the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (Alma). The presser is chaired by the President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
Speaking during the presser, the Vice President said The Gambia has made great strides in the fight against malaria, having reached the pre-elimination stage, with prevalence rate standing at less than one percent for over a decade.
“This is mainly because the prevention, diagnosis and management of malaria are integrated at the Primary Health Care level in our effort to provide Universal Health Coverage to all Gambians”.
He went on to highlight the numerous interventions undertaken by government towards the elimination of malaria in the country.
The objective of the press conference was to, among other things, place malaria elimination at the highest level on the political and development agenda with a call to action to fill both short term and longer term resource gaps to ensure that the fight against malaria is fully financed.
Bilateral engagements
VP Jallow also participated in several bilateral meetings with heads of delegations of friendly countries and development partners, in the margins of the 78th UNGA session.
Among the bi-laterals held, were ones with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Honorable Patricia Scotland on 19th of September 2023; with the President of Kenya, His Excellency Mr. William Ruto; with Secretary General of OIC H.E Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha of Bahrain; dinner with President Biden of United States along with other heads of state. He also graced the launch of the International High-Level Panel Campaign on Water Investment for Africa by His Excellency, President of Senegal, Macky Sall; discussions with the Amnesty International Secretary General and team, on the recent request they made about the fishing in waters of The Gambia. They congratulated The Gambia on its tolerance and promotion of democracy and freedom of expression.
He also had a meeting with the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Together with the Finance Minister Keita VP had a meeting with the Refocused Africa on a possible investment opportunity in The Gambia, as well as an engagement with President Umaro Sissoco Embalóof Guinea Bissau before the community of Bronze meeting.
