In a ceremony attended by senior representatives of the Gambian Government, MRC Unit The Gambia handed over equipment to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) bought through the Global Fund, on Tuesday 25 August 2015.
The MRC’s Global Fund Program entitled “Strengthening and Expansion of DOTS Services in The Gambia”was implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through the National Leprosy and TB Programme. As part of the programme which started  in July 2010, the MRC conducted a number of operational research projects the most prominent of which was the survey of TB prevalence (GAMSTEP)  in the country.

The results of these studies have been shared with the National TB control programme to inform policy and programmes for TB control. As the MRC concludes its work within the programme, assets bought have been handed over to the ministry in furtherance of the objectives of the Global Fund. The Transfer was done under the aegis of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) of the Global Fund Programme in the Country.

The assets that were handed over include; 1 Tata LPT Truck, 1 Toyota Land Cruiser, 13 Motorcycles, 1 Digital X-ray machine, 11 Microscopes, 5 Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, 2 Refrigerators, 8 Desktop Computers and 2 Laptops.  These were presented to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, through the Country Coordinating Mechanism represented by the Executive Secretary Mr Abdoulie Mam Njie.

On presenting the equipment, Professor Umberto D’Alessandro, Director of MRC Unit The Gambia elaborated  on the fantastic collaboration existing between the Ministry of Health and MRC Unit The Gambia, and said “together we shall fight diseases of major importance in The Gambia and Africa”.

In appreciation, the Honourable Omar Sey, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, thanked the MRC for the continued partnership that exists between the MRC and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Speaking at the ceremony, Musa Jallow Dupty Programme Manager for the National Leprosy and TB Programme, assured the MRC that through the CCM,  the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will make best use of the items, especially the once related to mobility.