Kanifing, The Gambia – Because the world marks World Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2025, Dr Nathan Bakyaita, WHO Consultant to The Gambia, has issued a name for stronger collaboration, elevated funding, and daring motion to remove TB.
This 12 months’s theme, “YES! We Can Finish TB: Commit, Make investments, and Ship,” emphasizes the necessity for sustained dedication to sort out the illness. Dr. Bakyaita careworn the significance of leveraging international momentum and constructing on The Gambia’s present TB management initiatives.
“We’ve got made commendable strides, however TB stays a persistent menace, notably to essentially the most susceptible in our communities,” Dr Bakyaita remarked. “Whereas TB incidence in The Gambia has declined, the rising mortality fee is a stark reminder that we can not afford complacency. We should act with urgency.”
The Gambia has made important progress in TB prevention, analysis, and therapy, with help from the Ministry of Well being and key companions. Well being amenities throughout the nation are actually outfitted with speedy diagnostic instruments like Gene-Xpert, enabling early and extra correct detection. Free TB analysis and therapy have enhanced entry, whereas sturdy information methods have improved surveillance and response.
Regardless of these developments, challenges stay. Dr Bakyaita referred to as for enhanced illness surveillance, broader entry to superior diagnostics and second-line medicines, sustainable funding, steady coaching for healthcare employees, stronger group engagement, and funding in progressive therapy methods.
“A TB-free future is inside attain, however provided that we match our phrases with motion,” he urged. “We should decide to stronger well being methods, spend money on confirmed options, and work collectively to ship actual impression. That is our second to show the tide towards TB.”
The press briefing, held on the Nationwide Leprosy & Tuberculosis Management Workplace in Kanifing, offered a platform for stakeholders to reaffirm their dedication to eliminating TB and making certain that nobody is left behind within the struggle towards this preventable and curable illness.
For extra info, please contact:
Halle Abdullahi
Exterior Relations Officer – WHO Gambia
E-mail: halmohamed [at] who.int (halmohamed[at]who[dot]int)
