This was followed by the launching of the Day at the Young Men Christian Association Headquarters after a long walk and bicycle race which involved members of GDA, volunteers and civil society groups.

Speaking on the significance of the Day, Mr. Bakary Jallow of the National Nutrition Agency said diabetes is a global public health threat and called for concerted action to stop its spread. He reminded participants to eat healthily by consuming less of saturated fatty foods high energy foods and eating more fruits and vegetable. He also spoke on some of the negative consequences of urbanization which has changed people’s lifestyles.

Mr. Salieu John and Dr. Alieu Gaye, Secretary and President of the GDA, thanked WHO and MoH and other partners for joining them in observing this important Day and also pledged their organization’s resolve to fighting diabetes with all it takes within their means.

Mr. Momodou Gassama (HPR) speaking on behalf of the WHO Representative, Dr. Sagoe-Moses, read the statement of the WHO Regional Director, which acknowledged the growing problem of diabetes in the African Region largely attributable to reduction in physical activity and adoption of unhealthy diets.

The statement also calls upon all governments in the region to “put the prevention and management of NCDs including diabetes high on the national development agenda and allocate adequate resources to ensure that measures are taken for the prevention, early diagnosis and proper case-management”.

Mr. Gassama assured GDA that WHO will continue to work closely with them to strengthen the good work it has already started in fighting diabetes in the Gambia. At the end of the event, participants had the opportunity to test their blood sugar and prizes were awarded to winners of the bicycle race.

The second part of the pogramme was a press briefing organized jointly by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the WHO Country Office.  Different fruits were displayed at the one-hour  ceremony which brought together over twenty journalists representing different media establishments in the country In a short statement, the Director of the Health Promotion unit, Mr. Modou Njai described the day as a moment of reflection on the way we live and eat nowadays compared to what obtained some years ago. He emphasized the need for  promoting local food consumption at household level to avoid fatty foods and was quick to remind the gathering of the President’s clarion call to ,‘eat what we grow and grow what we eat’.

Mr. Njie noted that the theme was very fitting and the demonstration of water melons, apples, bananas, dates and other fruits was meant to encourage people to eat more fruits and avoid oily foods and he encouraged people to consume some of the fruits and vegetables grown at household level instead of selling all.

Mr. Momodou Gassama (WHO) described diabetes as a disease of lifestyle affecting over 300 million people the world over. He called on people to do away with eating fatty foods and go for natural foods that will help them to stay healthy. He appealed for a change in eating habits that promote healthy eating.

“In order to live a healthy life, we must be interested in eating and promoting our local foods,” he asserted. He went on to say that a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal bod weight and avoiding tobacco use can help prevent and reduce complications due to diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.

Dr. Abubacarr Jagne of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) lamented that kidney diseases, heart attacks and strokes were  not diseases that affect only  rich people we used to believe.. He appealed to Gambians to change their in-take of oil as it is not healthy and increases the risk of non-communicable diseases. He stressed that “Brisk walking” is recommended to burn more fats. Controlling eating habits will therefore reduce the high cost of managing diabetes.

Mr. Omar Badgie, NCD Focal person at MOH&SW expressed concern over the alarming of diabetes  registered weekly at EFSTH which are mainly due to change in lifestyles. He urged participants to desist from visiting restaurants frequently and to eat more of our local foods.

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For more information:

Contacts:  Mr. Momodou Gassama, Health Promotion Officer
Email: gassamam [at] gm.afro.who.int (gassamam[at]gm[dot]afro[dot]who[dot]int)
Tel.: (+220)- 4462286

Mr. George. Williams, Health Information Assistant
Email: williamsg [at] gm.afro.who.int (williamsg[at]gm[dot]afro[dot]who[dot]int)
Tel.: (+220) 4462284