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The Ministry of Health in an update of the Covid-19 status in country indicated in their Facebook page that among the 25 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the country, 20 recovered, one death and four active cases are under treatment. The ministry stated that there is no new laboratory confirmed case of Covid-19 registered in the country, as of Saturday. “ All 31 new laboratory results received from MRCG returned negative for Covid-19 . The National Public Health Laboratory might commence routine testing of COVID-19 samples by Monday, the 1 st June 2020, after obtaining clearance from MRCG.” According to them, two people were newly taken into quarantine, while affirming that t he newly quarantined are Gambians who recently returned to the country from locations with ongoing community transmission. “ The country currently has 118 persons under quarantine; 4 active cases and no probable case . The four patients are currently receiving treatment at the ...

Bakary K. Jammeh, Central Bank governor of The Gambia today indicated that preliminary estimates of government fiscal operations indicated that overall deficit, including grants worsened from D24.3 million in the first quarter of 2019 to a deficit of D341.6 million in the first quarter of 2020. During the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press conference held in Banjul, Governor Jammeh added that the deficit excluding grants have improved to D0.5 billion in the first quarter of 2020 compared to D1.97 billion in the same period in 2019. “Revenue and grants in the first three months of 2020 decreased to D4.7 billion from D5.0 billion registered in the corresponding period in 2019. Domestic revenue, which comprises tax and non-tax revenue increased to D4.5 billion during the period under review from D3.0 billion in the same period last year.” He further explained that total government expenditure and net lending increased slightly to D5.02 billion, c...

President Adama Barrow, in his Saturday Koriteh message to the nation stated that his government takes full responsibility to address the Covid-19 pandemic, while assuring the general public for due accountability and transparency to fight Covid-19. President Barrow applaud the efforts of Gambians, saying it is most encouraging that despite the disruption in our daily routines, and in spite of our political and ideological differences, Gambians have demonstrated impressive resilience, benevolence and compassion. “This notwithstanding, my government takes full responsibility to address the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continuously review our policies to accommodate the realities of the times, while ensuring due accountability and transparency.”    At the regional level, he said they are working through ECOWAS to strengthen regional strategies to combat the virus. He continued that at the unprecedented Virtual Heads of State and Governme...

    The Civil Society Organization (CSO) in The Gambia on Thursday threw their weight behind the country’s new draft constitution, saying it captures the will of the Gambian people. In a joint statement the CSO’s have asked President Adama Barrow to submit the draft constitution to lawmakers “unaltered” “It is incumbent on the current government to take all urgent steps necessary to ensure that the draft Constitution is submitted unaltered to the National Assembly to respect the aspirations of the people,” said the activists in a statement read by John Charles Njie, the chairman of Tango, on behalf of civil society organisations in the country. The Draft Constitution, which was submitted to President Adama Barrow on March 30 and made public a day later, is due to be published in the gazette on May 30 and put before lawmakers in August before it is taken to a referendum. Its referendum requires the support of 75% turnout of 50% of Gambian voters. “Whil...

The deputy Director of Health Promotion at the Ministry of Health Sanjally Trawally today told press officers that Gambia registered another imported Covid-19 case and one recovered, which made the totaled confirmed cases to 24. He said the confirmed case is 47 years old male from Guinea Bissau and a driver at the Nigerian Consulate in Guinea Bissau. “He came with the consul who was to receive treatment at Medicare Clinic Gambia but were both intercepted at the border and taken into quarantine. He was taken into quarantine on the 14th May for entering the country.” He explained that to their road to Gambia from Bissau, the duo spent three nights in Ziguinchor, a city in the Southern Senegalese region of Cassamance. “Both travellers had their samples collected on the 15th May and the test results came out the following day (16 th May), while the test result of his travelling companion returned negative and he tested positive for Covid-19.” Mr...

The Deputy Director of Health Promotion at the Ministry of Health, Sanjally Trawally, today revealed to journalists in a press briefing that 51 Banjulians were arrested by security personnel for not practising social distancing. “Team from Kanifing comprising of PIU officers, the general duties and other security service officers arrested 51 people in Banjul, after receiving information that some youths in the city usually play night football game.” He also confirmed that security personnel are also deployed at Senegambia to limit access to only essential workers and to enforce social distancing.   Meanwhile, Mr Trawally stated that the Mansakonko task force intercepted two people, who were riding unregistered motorcycles. “They are believed to be Senegalese but they both absconded leaving their motorcycles behind.”

Article By:  Pa Modou Cham After President Adama Barrow launched his government’s ambitious covid-19 food aid initiative worth D734,25, 864 to help (84% of needy Gambian households), many anticipated transparency and probity in the manner the items would be distributed. However, an uncalled for attitude has proven itself to be the order of day in the North Bank Region (NBR) during distribution as people tasked to render this sacred job were allegedly involved in dubious activities of selling some of these food items to shopkeepers. Scores of people distributing these items have been arrested and are currently being detained at Ndungo Kebbeh Police Station, a source familiar with the development told The Point. At least three people have been arrested in Ndungo Kebbeh over the matter. The government intended to distribute 360,000 bags of 50kg of 100% broken rice, 50kg bags of sugar and 10 litre drums of refined cooking oil to needy Gambian citizens across th...

Gambia For All (GFA) party today in a press released stated that the party expect more transparency from government, while continue to express the need for transparency and accountability in the use of funds for COVID-19. The party indicated that it ’s imperative the government engages religious and traditional leaders, political parties, trade unions, private sector and civil society to promote wider understanding of, and support for the Response Plan for Covis-19. “This will ensure a wider mobilization of the community effort. These segments of society include in their midst, important opinion leaders who can effectively articulate the needs of their communities as well as advise on actions likely to prove most beneficial.” The party also argued that the source of D500 million initially provided to fight the epidemic was not explained from the onset, leading to much speculation which is not healthy in a situation where the state badly needs the...

The European Union has today (Wednesday) announced that it has provided €1,353,120 (about D73) million to fund a long term technical assistance team to work in support of the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Department of Water Resources in mitigating the consequences of climate change and helping The Gambia to adapt to it. According to the EU, the contract which will last for 36 months and provide capacity building and support to a range of climate mitigation and adaptation activities is already underway as part of the European Union’s €5.3 million (about 286 million) Global Climate Change Alliance GCCA+ Climate Resilient Coastal and Marine Zone project. In a statement writing by the EU delegation to The Gambia said that in The Gambia climate change is definitely a contributing factor towards declines in agriculture and rural livelihoods and the country’s coast and marine environment is fragile. These vuln...

The acting Director of Health Services Dr. Mustapha Bittaye has today disclosed in a daily press briefing that Psycho-social support and sensitization activities intensified in a village at URR, as the community threatening to vanish the family of the only confirmed Covid-19 case of the village. He also confirmed that 109 laboratory test results received are negative for Covid-19, while clarifying that over 90% of the results, are samples collected during the mass screening conducted in Bakau. “Five close contacts of the case In CRR have been taken into quarantine, and the compound is in total isolation. 231 samples collected on the 2 nd and the last day of the mass screening held in Bakau, three high risk contacts of the recently confirmed case have been traced, 151 low risk contacts been regularly followed up to ascertain manifestation of symptoms of Covid-19.” Dr. Bittaye further indicated that the country currently has 101 people under...

As The Gambia has now confirmed 2 positive cases from the Bakau/Cape Point/Fajara axis, and 2 inconclusive results from that same axis; today the 3rd and 4th May 2020, The Ministry of Health will conduct free Corona Virus Mass Testing for all in those in the Bakau, Cape Point and Fajara axis* The testing will commence at 9am on both Sunday and Monday at two locations: *Bakau Community Centre* *And Bakau School (Opposite Observer/Standard Newspaper)* We urge all to come out and get tested, whether you are symptomatic or asymptomatic, as over 50% of the country’s confirmed cases are asymptomatic (no sign or symptom present). *We encourage that all coming for a test observe social distancing and shield their mouths and nose with appropriate face masks* There will be armed forces present to further ensure that the social distancing measures are observed. We need your individual support to assist us in our efforts to detect early and fight against COVID-19. For more info...

By Fatou Dem The University of The Gambia’s School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences with funding from the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), has over the weekend concluded a nine-day training for regional health officials on hand sensitizer production and use of personal protective equipment (PPEs). The training involved 26 health care providers from all regions across The Gambia. Profs Ousman Nyan of the university of The Gambia, at the closing ceremony believed that the health workers are ready to make the difference. “This is a proud moment for us. You went through training not only for your own interest but also for your patients and communities,” he told the participants. Prof. Dr. Faqir Muhmmad Anjum, the Vice Chancellor of the university expressed gratitude to the staff, participants and sponsors of the programme. “There is no vaccine for the Covid-19.Therefore, we can only take seri...

By Fatou Dem Mandinary Majalise, a school of Qu’ranic memorization with the support from Noor aid has recently strengthened food aid to over 100 households within the communities of Kerewan, Wilingara and Mandinary village. Among the donated items distributed among needy Muslims to help support themselves were 100 bags of rice, 10 bags of sugar, 10 bags of onion, 10 gallon of oil and dates. At the distribution ceremony held at Mandinary Village, Oustass Abubacar Saidy of the Majaise explained that the items are charity to be distributed among Muslims during every holy month of Ramadan. He stated that they used to give out to the needy Muslims whenever they have it during Ramadan. “The coronavirus disease has made some people suffered and worrisome and that’s why our partners came to support. This is extended to the underprivileged households within the satellite villages of Wilingara, Mandinary and Kerawan.” He thanked the donors for s...

  The Acting Director of Health Services Dr. Mustapha Bittaye has on Saturday in a press briefing confirmed that the country registered five new cases of Covid-19.   He stated that Saturday’s conformation was one of the highest number of cases confirmed in a single day. He added that among the cases, one was reported from Central River Region (CRR) and it’s the first confirmed case from that region, while one is link with the case number 12 and three were closed contacts of the 11-case. “All the confirmed cases were quarantine and now move to the treatment center. Only one of the confirmed cases is symptomatic and out of the 28 test samples received, five were positive for Covid-19, two were probable cases and 21 were negative. The two probable cases will be resample and tested two to three days to conclusively determine their status.” He continued that both probable cases are also linked to the 12-case, adding that no new person was take...

Banjul, May 03: Today marks the 27th edition of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD). May 3rd has been set aside by the United Nations to pay tribute to journalism and journalists who have been killed in line of duty. It is also a day to remind governments of the need to uphold the values and principles of press freedom while providing a platform for media professionals to reflect on the freedom and responsibility of the media. This year’s commemoration comes at a time the world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, which poses enormous challenges to the freedom and development of the media. Dozens of journalists have already been killed in pursuit of stories by the virus, besides nearly two dozen journalists who have been killed in the first quarter of 2020. About 250 journalists are currently in prison and at risk of coronavirus. To complicate matters even more, the coronavirus pandemic is being used by governments around the world to stifle press freedom and the right o...