In wake of the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) crisis, health authorities are stepping up efforts to fight the disease that has left 70 children dead. Media professionals have been urged to disseminate the correct information on AKi, and amplify the Ministry of Health’s dedicated messages.
The Deputy Director of Health Promotion, Sanjally Trawalley, thanked reporters for turning up to Monday’s press conference, which was held at the Central Medical Store in Kotu, some 9 km away from Banjul
The Gambia is still battling AKI as health experts are yet to determine the real cause of the disease. In spite of the alert issued by World Health Organization (WHO) about four contaminated India-made cough syrups, healthcare professionals are making it very clear that tiny West African nation is yet to see light at the end of the tunnel.
In an attempt to highlight the importance of the media in amplifying public health recommendations, Trawalley said the ministry of health has always teamed up with media professionals to convey the right information. He then added that State-owned Radio Gambia has been a tool for health education when he was going to primary school.
He further stated that he joined the Directorate in 2015, at a time the Ebola epidemic was trickling through West Africa.
“We were sharing information about Ebola. The role of the media in disseminating the messages were very useful,” he told reporters while indicating that Gambia ending not having ‘a single case of Ebola.’
“The more we know about the problem, the better it is going to be solved,” he remarked.
‘The Media Cannot Be Left Behind’
WHO Health Promotion Specialist, Momodou Gassama, expressed similar sentiments, making it very clear that the ‘media cannot be left behind.’
“We cherish what you are doing,” he told reporters. “We know you are a very important partner in any health event. Without the media, we cannot succeed.”
Touching on the most sensitive part, Gassama went on to say the devices used by journalists will help to change the public’s attitude.
He reiterated WHO commitment to work with Ministry to fight AKI. “It is our obligation to work with the Ministry,” he added.
The press conference was also punctuated by a presentation made by the AKI Communication Focal Person, Lamin Sambou, gave a synopsis of the AKI.
While his presentation succeeded in igniting the mind of journalists, Sambou took the opportunity to indicate 1025 is the AKI Information Hotline.
