In the Kombo North district of The Gambia’s West Coast Region, the rainy season has just ended, yet its impacts remain visible. Along the road leading to several villages, tall grass and pools of stagnant water create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, the vectors of malaria.
On an early afternoon in Sinthiou Sory, the Bah family gathers under the shade of a tree to escape the oppressive heat. Mariama Bah, her youngest son resting on her lap, watches as a community health worker prepares to administer the boy’s second dose of anti-malaria medication.
“I had been informed of their visit, and I was determined to be here so my child could receive his dose,” she says.
For Mariama, like for thousands of other mothers across The Gambia, this simple act is a vital shield in a country where children under five bear the heaviest burden of malaria.
This scene is repeated in many households across Kombo North during the second cycle of the seasonal malaria chemoprevention campaign. It is an essential intervention in a country where malaria remains endemic.
The power of awareness-raising
Long before any dose is administered, Gambian Red Cross volunteers were mobilized in extensive awareness-raising efforts and community engagement.
“Dozens of volunteers have been trained and deployed for this campaign. They move from house to house, sharing accurate information, dispelling misconceptions, and encouraging parents to ensure that no child is left behind,” explains Alieu Jammeh, Malaria Project Manager at the Gambian Red Cross. “Their work is reinforced by awareness caravans circulating through streets and public spaces.”
For Alimathou Diadhiou, local supervisor of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), awareness-raising is essential “Without proper sensitization, we risk missing children because of simple misunderstandings or rumours,” she says. When reluctance is detected, it is reported to the supervisor, who then steps in alongside Red Cross volunteers to address concerns directly.
A collaborative approach that is delivering results.
“Thanks to this teamwork, reluctance is almost always resolved in the end,” says Alimathou Diadhiou. “In Sinthiou Sory, we have achieved more than 90 per cent of our coverage target.”
An international partnership serving communities
The campaign is part of the Accelerating Malaria Elimination in The Gambia project, implemented by the IFRC and the Gambia Red Cross Society, funded by China’s Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund (GDSSCF). This initiative strengthens the Gambian government's efforts to achieve its goal of eliminating malaria.
“Every dose administered is a concrete victory in the fight against malaria,” says Dr. Mame Diarra Faye, Health Programme Manager at the IFRC. “With the leadership of the Gambian government and the support of the Gambia Red Cross Society, the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), and other partners, we can and will make malaria elimination a reality.”