By Nelson Manneh
Kanifing East COVID-19 taskforce comprising the security forces embarked on a sensitization exercise to all markets within the Kanifing Municipality and engage vendors on social distancing and adhering to the stipulated opening and closing times for business.
Dr. Mustapha Bittaye the Director of Health Services at the Ministry of Health said the Anti-Crime Unit embarked on border patrol within West Coast Region to monitor border activities and to avert smuggling of people and goods in and out of the Gambia.
“Kanifing Municipality combined security taskforce embarked on a patrol around the Senegalese Embassy and engaged people who were receiving support from the embassy to practice social distancing and as well report any suspected case to the 1025 hotline for follow-up,” he said.
Dr. Bittaye said the Ministry of Health is currently working with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Children and Social Welfare (MWC&SW) and their partners, to prepare for the return of fifty-two Gambian children (Talibes) expected to be repatriated from Senegal.
“Our Ministry will engage and provide support to traditional healers in adopting safe behaviors and the dissemination of COVID-19 messages,” he said.
Dr. Bittaye said the Ministry of Health will embark on orienting Regional Governors and District Chiefs on COVID-19 and open a security post at Kerr Ardo because it is becoming a major route of entry into the Gambia, from Senegal.
“The Ministry of Health would like to assure the general public that the Gambia has a good quantity of ventilators both in stock and in use,” he said; that they are expecting the delivery of more than two hundred ventilators in the coming weeks.
Dr. Bittaye called on the general public and religious leaders to continue practicing social distancing.
