Banjul, 02 January 2014 -- The newly appointed WHO Representative to the Gambia, Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, this afternoon, presented his credentials to the Gambia’s Foreign Minister, Dr Aboubacarr Senghore.

During a brief discussion with Dr Sagoe-Moses in his office in Banjul, the Honorable Minister commended the WHO for the good work it is doing and for the positive contributions it is making towards the realization of national health goals. During the brief interaction, he said he was convinced that Dr. Sagoe-Moses was very conversant with health system, due to his previous working experience in the Gambia about 12 years ago. “We are in safe hands by having someone who understands the issues”, Dr. Senghore reiterated.

Speaking earlier, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mr. Dawda Ceesay, also elaborated on WHO’s contributions to the health sector, emphasized on the Organization’s role in supporting the Ministry in setting standards in health care, developing policies and strategies and developing and strengthening the human resource base for the health sector. He also paid tribute to the contributions the WHO has made towards the Gambia’s signing the IHP+ and development and finalization of the Health Policy and Strategic Plan through the immeasurable technical support and guidance.

For his part, the WR extended gratitude on behalf of the WHO Director General, Dr. Margaret Chan, and the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo, to the leadership of the country for all the support rendered to the Organization in doing its job. He assured the Foreign Minister that he would continue to consolidate what has been achieved over the years as the foundation is already laid and the necessary tools are available to achieve the needed results. “The Gambia’s Vision2020, the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE) and the National Health Policy and Strategic Plan have set the pace for coordinated action among the different stakeholders in the health sector”, Dr Sagoe-Moses reiterated.

He said that his main task in the coming years will be to continue providing support to the Ministry in particular, finalization of the draft National Health Strategic Plan and development of a new Country Cooperation Strategy. He also emphasized the need to strengthen and broaden partnership with different stakeholders in addressing maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health issue; communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases, but was quick to applaud the positive strides the Gambia has already made in this direction notably the creation of multi-sectoral working groups to coordinate these initiatives.

WR was accompanied to the Foreign Affairs Ministry by the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mr. Dawda Ceesay and newly appointed Director of Health Services, Dr Momodou Lamin Waggeh. Also present were NPO/HPR, Oper-ations Assistant and Health Information Assistant.

Meanwhile, similar sentiments were expressed by the health authorities when the WR paid a courtesy call on the Honorable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Honorable Omar Sey, and his team barely two days ago.

Minister Sey told the WR his work has been made easy as the foundation is already laid through the support of the WHO. On a more reassuring note during this brief meeting, the Minister and his team told the WR to always see himself as “being at home” and not “feeling at home”. He also discussed his plans for the health sector in the coming years taking into consideration universal health coverage and within the purview of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the Country Cooperation Strategy.

For more details please contact:

Mr. Momodou Gassama, Health Promotion Officer—9331961
Ext. 30805, Office: 00220 4462283/84/86

Mr. George Williams—Health Information Assistant—9900248
Ext.30808

The WHO Gambia Office, New Kotu Layout
P.M.B 170, Banjul, The GAMBIA