By Nelson Manneh
Honourable Modou Lamin B. Bah, the National Assembly Member for Banjul North, has been elected as the West Africa Bloc Representative (English-speaking countries) at the Executive Committee of the Network for African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH).
His election took place during the 16th Annual General Gathering of NEAPACOH, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from March 5-7, 2025. The event brought together parliamentary representatives from health and budget committees across 26 African countries, alongside civil society organizations and technical support staff.
Themed “Repositioning the Roles of Parliamentarians for the Implementation of the Unfinished ICPD Agenda and the Attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC): South-to-South Lessons and Good Practices,” the conference focused on strengthening legislative engagement in health reforms.
As head of the Gambian delegation, Honourable Bah presented the NEAPACOH 2025 report on behalf of The Gambia, reaffirming his commitment to advancing healthcare policies through parliamentary oversight and stakeholder collaboration.
During his engagement in Tanzania, Bah emphasized the importance of networking with key partners willing to support The Gambia’s healthcare system, particularly in areas such as sexual and reproductive health, tuberculosis (TB), maternal health, and population and development.
“Together with my team, we are committed to setting up the first-ever TB caucus in parliament to support efforts in addressing TB in The Gambia,” he stated.
His election to the NEAPACOH Executive Committee is expected to enhance The Gambia’s role in shaping regional health policies and strengthening collaboration with other West African nations in advancing universal healthcare and reproductive health rights.
