Category: English

Source: APO

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About 60 exemplary farmers and heads of agricultural offices, along with experts from Segeneity sub-zone, conducted a tour to the organic farming extension in Akria, Central Region, on 2 July. The program was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Public Relations Office of the Ministry stated that the objective of the program was to facilitate experience-sharing among exemplary farmers on integrated organic farming, as well as the use of organic fertilizers and pesticides.

Participants expressed appreciation for the Ministry of Agriculture’s role in enhancing their capacity and experience. They also pledged to share the knowledge they gained with fellow farmers in their respective areas and called for the continuation of such programs.

Mr. Michael Medhanie, Manager of Orgamic Farming, noted that the farmers gained valuable insights into organic farming methods and encouraged them to apply these practices and share their experiences with others.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

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Mr. Fitwi Woldegergis, Director of the Students’ Summer Work Program, indicated that the program is set to be conducted from 7 July to 16 August at the national level.

In this 27th round of the program, about 30,000 students—including 41% female students—along with around 1,000 teachers, medical, and agricultural experts, will participate from 150 centers.

Mr. Fitwi further indicated that 95% of the participants will engage in water and soil conservation activities, afforestation, preparation of holes for tree planting, road renovation, construction of terraces, and environmental sanitation at schools and surrounding areas. The remaining 5% will participate in road traffic safety and documentation work in Asmara, Keren, and Mendefera.

According to the program plan, about 1.3 million tree seedlings will be planted, 1,100 km of terraces and over 41,000 cubic meters of water catchment schemes in arable lands will be constructed, and 630 km of terraces along with about 24,000 cubic meters of water catchment schemes will be renovated.

Due to climate conditions, the program in the Northern and Southern Red Sea Regions commenced in the first week of June.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO – Report:

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The office of the PFDJ in the Gash Barka Region has provided training on social science to youth workers in the region. The training was conducted from 23 June to 2 July in Barentu.

The objective of the training was to enhance the productivity and overall awareness of the youth working in PFDJ and Government institutions. The training was attended by 139 participants, including 68 females, composed of youth Government workers and PFDJ organizations.

Mr. Ahmed Tahir, Head of Political Affairs of the PFDJ in the region, stated that the training covered the basic concepts of politics, the significance and necessity of organization, the history of the Eritrean people from ancient times to independence, the National Charter, organizational framework and transitional law, nation and nationalism, religious radicalism and its consequences, as well as the role of youth in resilience and development.

Indicating that this was the first training of its kind organized at the regional level, Ambassador Mahmud Ali Jabra, Secretary of the PFDJ in the region, said that it would make a significant contribution to strengthening political and organizational activities.

At the event, Brig. Gen. Eyob Fesehaye (Halibai), Commander of the Eastern Command of the Eritrean Defense Forces, delivered a seminar focusing on the role of cadres in the political and armed struggle of the Eritrean people, as well as on the current situation in the homeland. Brig. Gen. Eyob also called on the youth to develop their overall understanding and awareness and to strengthen their contribution and participation in national affairs.

During the event, participants voluntarily donated blood to help enrich the blood supply of health facilities.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO – Report:

U.S. oil and gas company VAALCO Energy has begun refurbishing its FPSO facility at the Baobab field in Block CI-40, offshore Ivory Coast. The modernization is set to increase production beyond the current 2,891 barrels of oil equivalent per day and extend the field’s economic life. A new drilling campaign is planned for 2026 to further develop both the Baobab field and the nearby Kossipo discovery. In addition, VAALCO farmed into Block CI-705 as operator in March 2025, reinforcing its long-term commitment to Ivory Coast’s energy sector.

In line with the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies agenda – which centers on maximizing resource development to end energy poverty and drive industrial growth – VAALCO Energy is participating in the 2025 edition as a Platinum Partner. Held under the theme, Invest in African Energy: Positioning Africa as the Global Energy Champion, this year’s event will spotlight the contributions of companies like VAALCO in unlocking the continent’s estimated 125 billion barrels of crude oil and 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. With over 600 million people in Africa lacking access to reliable electricity and 900 million without clean cooking solutions, Africa’s hydrocarbon resources remain critical to closing the energy access gap.

Recognizing this, VAALCO is expanding its investments and footprint across key African markets. In Gabon, the company operates the Etame Marin block with a 58.8% working interest and is preparing to launch a new drilling campaign in Q3 2025. To support its efforts in both Gabon and Ivory Coast, VAALCO secured a $300 million revolving credit facility from Standard Bank of South Africa in March 2025.

In Egypt, VAALCO brought five new wells online in 2025, boosting daily output and enhancing regional energy stability. The company also identified new reserves and a production zone during a Q4 2024 exploration campaign. Its Egyptian portfolio spans the Eastern Desert – including the West Gharib, West Bakr and North West Gharib concessions – as well as the South Ghazalat concession in the Western Desert.

Meanwhile, in Equatorial Guinea, VAALCO is progressing toward FID for the Venus field development in Block P, with front-end engineering and design currently underway. Drilling is set to commence following FID, with first oil targeted for 2026. As the company scales up its operations across the continent, AEW: Invest in African Energies offers a strategic platform for VAALCO to engage with partners, investors, buyers and regulators and to solidify its role in advancing Africa’s industrialization.

“VAALCO Energy’s growing footprint across Africa speaks to the vast opportunities available on the continent. Their commitment to investing in infrastructure, boosting production and supporting local economies aligns perfectly with our mission to position Africa as a global energy frontier,” states Tomás Gerbasio, VP of Commercial and Strategic Engagement, African Energy Chamber.

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

About African Energy Week:
AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Source: APO

bp South Africa – a subsidiary of global energy major bp – is undergoing a strategic transformation to modernize its services, infrastructure and customer experience across the country. In May 2025, the company launched a comprehensive nationwide upgrade of its existing service stations and announced plans to construct 40 new retail sites equipped with expanded offerings, including electric vehicle charging stations and a low-carbon battery rental service. These efforts underscore bp South Africa’s commitment to driving innovation while addressing energy poverty and decarbonization.

As part of this strategic evolution, bp South Africa returns to African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies as a Platinum Partner, reaffirming its commitment to Africa’s energy future. Held under the theme Positioning Africa as the Global Energy Champion, AEW: Invest in African Energies serves as the continent’s premier platform for high-level dialogue, deal-making and partnership-building. The event brings together key stakeholders to accelerate progress toward a just and inclusive energy transition.

AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

In line with its growth strategy, bp South Africa is enhancing fuel logistics through partnerships with DP World and Makwande Supply & Distribution, ensuring more efficient and cost-effective delivery of petroleum products nationwide. The company signed an agreement with the two logistics firms in 2024, enabling bp South Africa to outsource highly-specialized, non-core functions These initiatives aim to improve fuel accessibility and operational resilience across urban and rural markets.

Beyond infrastructure, bp South Africa is deeply invested in local economic development, gender empowerment and inclusive growth. The company places a strong emphasis on diversity, with various programs being implemented to empower local businesses, enhance skills development and outreach. Notably, through a R58 million partnership with the Small Enterprise Finance Agency, bp South Africa is supporting black-owned SMEs with funding and technical skills to operate service stations, contributing to broader economic empowerment. A cooperation agreement was signed in 2023, aimed at supporting black-owned businesses across the country’s fuel retain space.

bp in Africa

These efforts align with the broader goals of the larger bp group to advance energy projects in Africa. Driven by a commitment to innovation and inclusive growth, bp is scaling up its operations across the continent through strategic investments and partnerships. In Angola, the company merged its assets with those of energy major Eni in 2022, creating Azule Energy – the country’s largest independent equity producer of oil and gas. Azule Energy targets 250,000 barrels per day in Angola, with several projects coming online in the coming months. These include the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development and Angola’s first non-associated gas project. In the MSGBC region, bp leads the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project – situated on the maritime border of Senegal and Mauritania. The project achieved first gas flow in January 2025. The company also plays a major role in North Africa’s gas sector. Notably, in February 2025, bp went onstream with the second-phase development of the Raven field, offshore Egypt. In Libya, the company is driving a multi-well drilling campaign following its return to the country in 2024. These investments underscore bp’s commitment to Africa.

“bp South Africa has played a foundational role in shaping the country’s energy sector for over 100 years. As the energy landscape evolves, the company’s inclusive approach, focus on innovation and support for women and entrepreneurs will continue playing an instrumental part in driving sustainable solutions,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

The upcoming Carbon Markets Africa Summit (CMAS) programme features the continent’s entire carbon markets value chain in what is a compelling combination of successful early carbon market movers, climate-finance-ready projects, regulatory bodies as well as global institutional development organisations and investors. The event is taking place in Johannesburg from 22 to 23 October, with pre-conference sessions on 21 October.

CMAS is dedicated to unlocking Africa’s carbon market potential, incorporating integrity, investment and impact. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) are official supporters of the event.

Shifting global landscape
Day 1’s opening session will focus on the continent’s pivotal opportunity to define its own carbon trajectory, attract meaningful investment and align carbon market growth with the priorities of climate resilience, equity and sustainable development. Speakers already confirmed include:
– Iain Banner, Chairman, South Africa
– Fenella Aouane, Global Green Growth Institute, Luxembourg
– Maxwell Gomera, UNDP
– Javier Manzanares, Allen Manza, Panama
– Caroline Tixier, EU Delegation to South Africa
– Angela Churie Kallhauge, Impact, Environmental Defence Fund, USA

Aligning strategy with global agendas
The session on the “Road to COP30: Aligning Africa’s Carbon Strategy with Global Agendas” will look compare Africa’s carbon strategy with global frameworks such as Article 6. High-level representatives from the GMEX Group, AfDBm Verra and ACMI will be part of this panel discussion.

Carbon market frameworks
As African countries move from climate ambition to implementation, regulatory clarity is becoming the cornerstone of carbon market development. A session titled “Turning Policy into Action,” will explore how national frameworks are evolving post-COP29, what integration of Article 6 looks like on the ground and how public-private collaboration can drive effective execution. Strong representation from across the continent and value chain bodes for an enlightening discussion, including the UNDP, Government of Nigeria, the South African Department of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment, Zambia’s Ministry of Green Economy and Environment and Uganda Climate Change Department.

The challenges with regards to integrity that carbon markets have faced will be tackled head-on during CMAS. Promethium’s Principal Climate Change Advisor Olivia Tuchten will lead the panel discussion around standards, verification and market oversight with experts from Verra, Gold Standard and Anthesis.

Financing Africa’s carbon pipeline
Day 2 of the packed CMAS programme features investor roundtables in a more intimate setting, aimed at “Connecting Climate Capital with Scalable Carbon Solutions,” during which a select group of carbon market investors and financiers can present their funds, strategies and investment opportunities to both potential capital partners and carbon project developers.

Keynote on investment
Day 2’s keynote session on “Financing Africa’s Carbon Pipeline: Derisking, Scaling and Innovating” will address both sides of the investment equation with participants from Shell Nature Based Solutions, Standard Bank, MIGA, AfDB and South Pole.

Jonathan First, Senior Advisor at Climate Policy Initiative will also unpack the question of how to mobilise private capital for Africa’s carbon markets with several financiers from TransEnergy Global, FSD Africa, the JSE and JP Morgan.

Pre-conference day
The CARBON 101 masterclass will provide investors, policymakers and developers with the necessary insights into the burgeoning business of carbon markets. The expert facilitators in this relatively new field will cover everything from international frameworks, African policy landscapes, credit integrity and investment fundamentals.

“Trust plays a key role”
As part of CMAS 2025’s mission to catalyse high-integrity, African-led carbon markets, Dominic Wilhelm, Executive Director of the Global Trust Project, will also lead a high-impact dialogue working session.

“While the current value of carbon markets as of 2023 is about $950 billion, within the next 10 years, it’s going to be worth $16 trillion,” says Wilhelm. “However, the full value chain of carbon markets is very fragmented, and it’s not transparent. Therefore, the full value chain needs to rapidly come together in a high-level dialogue, in which trust plays a key role to solve some of these challenges.”

VUKA Group 
Carbon Markets Africa Summit is organised by VUKA Group, which has more than 20 years’ experience in serving the business community across Africa.

Event dates and location:
Dates:
21 October: Pre-summit day
22–23 October: Summit
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

Additional Information:
Download the Carbon Markets Africa Summit Programme Brochure here:
https://apo-opa.co/44xg9Dg

Contact details for Carbon Markets Africa Summit:
Tailor-made partnerships: Natalie Kruger
Cell: +66 (0) 65 614 8605
Email: natalie.kruger@wearevuka.com

Project Lead: Emmanuelle Nicholls 
Cell: +27 83 447 8410  
Email: emmanuelle.nicholls@wearevuka.com  

Event website: 
www.CarbonMarketsAfrica.com

Source: APO

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany met HIS EXCELLENCY MR. DHARAMBEER GOKHOOL, The President of Republic of Mauritius, during a high-level meeting, to share the impact of their programs and underscore their long-term commitment to transform public healthcare in Mauritius.  

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign emphasized, “It was a great honor to meet H.E. MR. DHARAMBEER GOKHOOL, The President of Mauritius and share with him the impact of our partnership and programs since 2017 that aim to transform patient care, build healthcare and media capacity, to empower women in STEM, support girl education and raise awareness about social and health issues in Mauritius and the rest of Africa. 

I am proud to share that we have provided 100 scholarships for Mauritian doctors in 42 critical and under-served specialties. During our meeting, we also discussed the possibility of providing specialized training for Mauritian doctors in innovative and emerging fields such as Stem Cell Therapy in pathology, CAR T-cell treatment, AI in Radiology, Radiotherapy and Medical Oncology, Robotic Surgical Oncology, Neurology, Nephrology, Urology, and Neurosurgery.” 

She further added, “We are strongly committed to work closely with Ministry of Health to improve access to innovative and equitable healthcare solutions.” 

The 100 scholarships for local Mauritian Doctors have been provided for One-Year PG Diploma and Two-year Master Degrees in many critical specialties including Fertility, Embryology, Sexual & Reproductive Care, Oncology, Preventative Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Acute Medicine, Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Neuroimaging for Research, Sexual & Reproductive Care, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Ophthalmology, Laparoscopic Surgical Skills, Critical Care, Neonatal Medicine, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Advanced Cytopathology and many more.

Merck Foundation has so far provided more than 2280 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties, with many of them becoming the first specialists in their countries.

During her visit, Merck Foundation CEO also met the Hon’ble Ms. Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare,  and senior officials from the Office of Hon’ble Minister of Health, Mauritius. 

Merck Foundation also conducted the 4th Edition of their Health Media Training for the Mauritian Media Representatives in partnership with Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mauritius. The training session was conducted to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence society to create a cultural shift with the aim to address wide range of social and health issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, Stopping GBV, Diabetes and Hypertension awareness. It was co-chaired by Merck Foundation CEO and Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mauritius.  

During the training session, the Call for Application for 8 important Merck Foundation Awards were announced for Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields.  

The award announced are: 

1. Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with Media Trust Board, Mauritius: Media representatives and media students are invited to showcase their work to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels. 

Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.  

2. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with Academy of Design and Innovation, Mauritius: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels. 

Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.  

3. Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels. 

Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.  

4. Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels. 

Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.  

5. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2025 “Diabetes & Hypertension”, in partnership with Media Trust Board, Mauritius: Media representatives are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. 

Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.  

6. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 2025 “Diabetes & Hypertension”, in partnership with Academy of Design and Innovation, Mauritius: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. 

Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.  

7. Merck Foundation Film Awards 2025 “Diabetes & Hypertension: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. 

Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.  

8. Merck Foundation Song Awards 2025 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. 

Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.  

Entries for the above awards can be submitted to us at: submit@merck-foundation.com 

For information on the above awards, please visit our website: www.Merck-Foundation.com 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

Contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager
+91 9310087613
+91 9319606669
mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

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Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com

About Merck Foundation:  
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/45OYtFD), X (https://apo-opa.co/4la7sWx), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4nxsBM9), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3Ib03rE), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/44tqLDg) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/45VKr5e). 

The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors. 

Source: APO

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A new study carried out by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) confirms the critical role international health teams have played in strengthening outbreak response across the African continent. The study also highlights the need for more strategic and locally tailored support models to ensure long-term sustainability and effectiveness.

Presented and validated during a high-level virtual workshop held from 23 to 24 June 2025, the study offers one of the most comprehensive assessments to date of international technical deployments and their impact on national outbreak preparedness and response systems in African Union (AU) Member States between 2020 and 2023.

The findings show that international teams provided crucial short-term surge capacity across several public health domains, including surveillance, laboratory systems, epidemiology, infection prevention and control, clinical care, and risk communication. Notably, nearly half of all deployments supported two or more of these areas, underscoring their value in addressing multifaceted outbreak challenges.

Beyond emergency response, the study details how international teams supported countries through the provision of equipment and infrastructure, the development of operational systems and protocols, the transfer of skills through training, the enhancement of coordination structures, and rapid deployment of human resources during critical capacity gaps.

“These deployments have delivered vital expertise, resources, and rapid response capacity at crucial moments,” said Dr Radjabu Bigirimana, Programme Lead for Africa CDC’s African Volunteers Health Corps (AVoHC). “However, they also raise important questions about sustainability, coordination, and how we strengthen long-term national preparedness systems.”

While national stakeholders widely appreciated the contributions of international teams, the study also captured reflections from international partners on the importance of aligning deployments with local needs, existing national capacities, and longer-term health security goals. Effectiveness, the study found, often depended on the expertise of deployed personnel and their integration into existing national response systems.

“This workshop reinforces the need for global partnerships to evolve—where international deployments are not just reactive measures, but deliberate investments in national systems, tailored to local realities and long-term goals,” said Dr Edmund Newman, Director of the UK-PHRST.

“Evidence-informed learning must guide how we improve emergency public health deployments,” added Dr Femi Nzegwu, Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning lead at UK-PHRST. “The findings of the report validate experiences across Africa but also point to what must change to ensure deployments are more effective, context-specific, equitable, and empowering for Member States.”

The workshop resulted in the collaborative development of a roadmap to operationalise the report’s recommendations, serving as a good practice guide on how to enable sustainable solutions in outbreak management among AU Member States. In turn, the report lays a foundation for reducing long-term reliance on external surge capacity by strengthening national health systems.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Source: APO

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On a hot and humid Thursday afternoon, the courtyard of The Gambia’s Central Medical Store swarms with people. Despite the oppressive heat, dozens of people gather under a large tent.

From time to time, clouds appear before dissipating, while the small puddles left by a light rainfall the day before remind everyone of the onset of the rainy season, a period known to bring a surge in malaria cases.

Against this backdrop, the Gambian Red Cross Society (GRCS) officially handed over a vital consignment of anti-malarial medications to the Ministry of Health in support of the upcoming Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign.

This life-saving donation is part of the “Accelerating Malaria Elimination in The Gambia” project, funded by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). 

“This delivery comes at the right time,” said Lamine Dampha, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health during the handover ceremony. “The rainy season, commonly referred to as ‘malaria season’, has just begun. These medications will allow us to protect tens of thousands of people, especially children under five, who continue to bear the highest burden of malaria, across the country”.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Charles Businge, the IFRC’s regional director for Africa emphasized that these medications come at a crucial time when global funding for malaria is declining.

In this context, Ibou Fye Njie, secretary general of the GRCS, says these medicines take on even greater significance. 

“Delivery of these medicines marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to achieve a malaria-free Gambia, while emphasizing that the project will finance the operational costs for the implementation of four SMC cycles during the 2025 malaria season in Kombo North District,” he said.

Supporting a nationwide mosquito nets distribution campaign

Valued at over USD 108,000 (excluding transport costs estimated at USD 35,000), the medications handover follows a large-scale mosquito net distribution campaign, conducted in partnership with the Senegalese authorities as part of a coordinated cross-border malaria control effort. 

More than 1.5 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets were distributed free of charge to households across The Gambia.

Supporting this nationwide effort, 280 Red Cross volunteers were mobilized across all regions to raise awareness about malaria prevention. They went door-to-door educating families about the proper use of mosquito nets, provided information on where to collect them, and assisted Ministry of Health staff with registering beneficiaries.

“I’m very grateful to have received a mosquito net,” said a mother of three from the Central River Region. “This year, I know my children and I will be protected from malaria.”

Malaria: a major public health threat

Malaria is one of the top ten causes of death in The Gambia, with the entire population of the country at risk of the disease. It also remains a leading cause of childhood mortality and morbidity in The Gambia, where under-five mortality rate remains high at 56 per 1,000 live births. 

Despite significant progress in recent years, global malaria funding is insufficient to sustain essential services for a growing population and addressing biological and non-biological threats. 

Speaking on behalf of His Excellency Liu Jin, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to The Gambia, Mr. Zhan Tong, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, reaffirmed China’s commitment:

“We are confident that, with the strong support of the Chinese government and the international community, we will see tangible progress very soon,” he said.

The “Accelerating Malaria Elimination in The Gambia” project, launched in September 2024, will run through September 2026, with a total budget of USD 1,978,879.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).