OP

By Amadou Manjang 

I love arranging and rearranging things in our house but my roommate doesn’t. We have two different views, ideas and taste on how the house should look like. My roommate, literary fancy fix and static arrangement because he doesn’t want to waste time thinking where the spoon, book or pen is. Our house is a tiny square box ahboring two individuals, different in everything except their love for books and they took pleasure in placing books on the edge of the bed. The only thing they have in common. 

I sporadically like moving the bed from the right to left today, and tomorrow from right to left. I did the same with book shelves, cupboards, tables and chairs. Moving the books creates hurly-burly, even for myself. I fancy my roommate\

Team Outpost 

Sally Jarju, the President of Association of Health Journalists (AOHJ) is attending a two day\

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has officially declared the ongoing Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), marking the first such declaration by the agency since its inception in 2017.

This declaration, under Article 3, Paragraph F of the Africa CDC Statutes, empowers the organization to lead and coordinate responses to significant health emergencies. The statute mandates Africa CDC to “coordinate and support Member States in health emergency responses, particularly those declared PHECS or Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), as well as health promotion and disease prevention through health systems strengthening, addressing communicable and non-communicable diseases, environmental health, and Neglected Tropical Diseases.”

The declaration will enable the mobilization of resources across affected countries, unlocking essential funding, strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), boosting surveillance and laboratory testing efforts, and enhancing human resource capacities to respond effectively to Mpox through a One Health approach.

Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya emphasized the urgency of swift and decisive action: “Today, we declare this PHECS to mobilize our institutions, our collective will, and our resources to act—swiftly and decisively. This empowers us to forge new partnerships, strengthen our health systems, educate our communities, and deliver life-saving interventions where they are needed most. There is no need for travel restrictions at this time.”

At least 13 African countries, including previously unaffected nations like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, have reported Mpox outbreaks. So far in 2024, these countries have confirmed 2,863 cases and 517 deaths, primarily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Suspected cases across the continent have surged past 17,000, a significant increase from 7,146 cases in 2022 and 14,957 cases in 2023. This is just the tip of the iceberg when we consider the many weaknesses in surveillance, laboratory testing and contact tracing.

Dr. Kaseya underscored the gravity of the situation stating “This is not just another challenge; it’s a crisis that demands our collective action. Article 3, Paragraph F of the Africa CDC Statutes mandates us to lead and coordinate the response when there is a declaration of a public health emergency of international concern.”

From May 2022 to July 2023, Mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the WHO. However, Africa did not receive the support it urgently needed during this period. As global cases began to decline, the escalating numbers in Africa were largely ignored. Dr. Kaseya emphasized the need for a change in approach: “We urge our international partners to seize this moment to act differently and collaborate closely with Africa CDC to provide the necessary support to our Member States.”

He continued, appealing to global partners: “We call on you to stand with us in this critical hour. Africa has long been on the frontlines in the fight against infectious diseases, often with limited resources. The battle against Mpox demands a global response. We need your support, expertise, and solidarity. The world cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this crisis.”

He explained that the emergency declaration follows wide consultations, including a unanimous decision by the Africa CDC Emergency Consultative Group (ECG), chaired by Professor Salim Abdool Karim, head of CAPRISA, an AIDS research program based in Durban, South Africa.

Prof. Karim highlighted that limited surveillance and evidence suggest the situation could be more severe than currently understood. “The number of cases has significantly increased compared to 2022 when WHO declared Mpox a public health emergency. It’s clear that we’re facing a different scenario with far more cases, resulting in a higher burden of illness,” he said. He also raised concerns about the rising fatalities, particularly the potential link between HIV and Mpox. “Our concern is that we may be seeing more fatalities in Africa due to the association with HIV,” he noted.

Cross-border transmission to previously unaffected countries was also a concern, prompting the ECG to urge the strategic distribution of the limited vaccines available. The lack of diagnostic capabilities was identified as a critical issue requiring urgent attention, and the ECG encouraged the development of response plans, promising to provide input and support.

To address the Mpox outbreak in Africa, Africa CDC has set up a 25-member Incident Management Team based at the epicenter of the Mpox epidemic with mandate to support affected and at-risk countries. Africa CDC has also signed a partnership agreement with the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and Bavarian Nordic to provide over 215,000 doses of the MVA-BN® vaccine—the only FDA and EMA-approved Mpox vaccine. Africa CDC will oversee the equitable distribution of these vaccines, prioritizing local needs across the affected Member States.

MPOX SYMPTOMS, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT

Mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, with two distinct clades: Clade I and Clade II. Common symptoms include a skin rash or mucosal lesions lasting 2–4 weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. The virus can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with an infectious person, contaminated materials, or infected animals

 Fatou Bensouda, Gambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, was honored by the Asia One Europe-Africa Business and Social Forum with the Diplomatic Excellence Award.

This award was presented to Heads of Diplomatic Missions who have shown exceptional dedication to serving their countries and fostering better diplomatic relations with other nations.

The award recognizes the recipients\

By Cherno Omar Bob 

The Gambia ended the Paris 2024 Olyympic Games without any of its 7 athletes winning a medal. The Gambia was represented by 3 athletes in athletics, 2 swimmers, 1 judoka and 1 taekwondo. 

Alasan Ann was the last athlete to take to the stage on Saturday 10th August 2024 and lost 2-0 to Croatian Ivan Sapina in his Men +80kg round of sixteen at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The fight for Ann who was making his maiden Olympic appearance for The Gambia took place at Grand Palaise, Paris.

The two-time medalist in the men’s 87 kg event at the World Taekwondo Championships and two-time medalist, including gold, in his event at the European Taekwondo Championships beat Ann in round two.

Ann is the first Gambian taekwondo athlete to qualified to the Olympic Games. The 23-year-old secured his qualification as one of 16 Africans who secured a Paris 2024 quota spots at the 2024 African Taekwondo Olympic Qualification Tournament in Dakar.

Ann reached the final of the African qualifying tournament last February to earn his place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

By Alagie Saidy-Barrow 

I have argued, at various times that as a people, unless the foundations we stand on are dismantled, Gambia will never rise. I still stand by that position. And when I say dismantled, people assume it’s destruction but that is not the case here. Dismantling means systematically taking apart every single piece of the columns we stand on and examining them to see if they are fit for purpose. For instance, why do we feel the need to give prime land to the President or public and civil servants? You’ll hardly ever hear such prime lands being given to some poor woman in the backwaters of Badibu? How fair is this land allocation system? We seldom ask these types of questions because those who are supposed to play the drum and sitting comfortably on it. 

Gambia is not where it is today because Gambians are stupid or lazy, no, we are where we are because we insist on colonial foundations that have never worked for any African country! And these foundations were meant to advance those in the colonial government and not the people of the country! It is the same for our idea of a government today. Government exists, first and foremost, to benefit those with power, their families, and friends. And the foundation of public service we remain married to encourages a mindset where public service comes with a sickening entitlement to public resources. Serving the public means enriching oneself and giving yourself and your family perks that will never be availed to the average Gambian. Land is just one of them! 

The sense of entitlement has led to a rat race in the country and nowhere is this rat race manifested more than in public or civil service. The idea of public service is based on the colonial system of serving the leaders with the best of what is available and then worry about the people later! Government service means giving land to so called public servants before thinking about giving land to those who need it the most. Government service means accumulating wealth and resources, including land, on the backs of poor Gambians. That is why your judiciary, legislature and executive give themselves all kinds of benefits that poor Gambians cannot even begin to imagine!

This system of allocating land to elites and semi-elites is all part of the rat race and the buffet mentality of public service. I’m sure my mother never knew that she was eligible for any piece of land and I can guarantee you that most Gambians living in the rural areas are not aware that they are eligible for land. That is by design. While the government will claim that all Gambians are entitled to land allocation, they know very well that by the time the people of Jahkunda know that land is being allocated, all prime lands would have been given to public and civil servants and their families! And as usual, when confronted, they will always tell you that they followed due process or that there is nothing illegal in their action. Right or wrong does not matter as much as legality! 

For me, this issue about Adama Barrow giving himself land or Ousainou Darboe telling us his family members also got land goes beyond the two of them. There is an unfair system in place that allows powerful people, public and civil servants to accumulate wealth and resources at the expense of The Gambian people. That system must be dismantled because it promotes greed and entitlement. You will be shocked to know how many \"important\" people who are rich and doing well, still find ways to leech on the backs of poor Gambians. And they all follow due process! It is the foundation of our governance architecture that is corrosive because it encourages corruption, greed, selfishness, duplicity and spinelessness. We can change the oarsman but our boat will continue to sink if we don\

By Cherno Omar Bob

Gambian 50m freestyle swimmer, Ousman Jobe, has expressed satisfaction with his maiden Olympics appearance timing for The Gambia even though he did not break his person best.

In an interview with this reporter shortly after his competition, the young swimmer said: “I feel good even though I did not clock my personal best.”

Jobe finished 6th position in his Men Freestyle 50m category heats on Thursday 1st August 2024 with a timing of 26.97 seconds. The timing means he failed to progress to the next stage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Ousman, who was making his maiden Olympics appearance for The Gambia described the Olympic Games as really competitive.

He pointed out that he trained in Thailand with those he competed against in the heats, saying they did not beat him much in the heats.

Jobe, who has secured another scholarship to train in France ahead of the next Olympic Games to be held in Los Angeles in 2028, said he would train more and compete in fourth coming competitions to ensure he does better during the next Olympics.

He also called for the need for more support, saying that the scholarship alone is not enough.

Jobe qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in accordance with the Paris 2024 Swimming Qualification Criteria under Universality Places and because he is among the highest -ranked athlete(s), based upon the World Aquatics Points Table (2024 edition.)

The swimmer who was training at the Than Yapura Training Centre in Thailand, participated in the PTT Thailand Swimming Championships (25m pool) organised by Swim Meets Thailand before the Olympics.

He participated in 6 events: 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly, 50m breaststroke and 100m individual medley (IM). 

During his participation at the Championships, Ousman made history by being the first Gambian swimmer to compete in 100m butterfly and 100 IM. By doing so, Ousman set two national records, one in the 100m butterfly and the other in 100 IM.

 Ousman also set four new personal bests for himself in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly. 

The three times Olympian crossed the finish line with a timing of 11:01 seconds. The semi-finals of the women 100m race will take place tomorrow, Saturday 3rd August 2024 at the same venue. 

The sprinter is Gambia\

By Cherno Omar Bob 

Sanu Jallow who made her maiden Olympics appearance for The Gambia on Friday 2nd August 2024, has set a National Record.

The young athlete set a National Record in 800m during her Paris 2024 Olympic Games heat 5 run. The young, yet spontaneous and hardworking athlete ran 2:03.91 and finished 7th position in her heat.

The US based Gambian long distance runner broken the 800 meters national record with a time of 1:59:29.

She was running for her Arkansas College women’s track and field team which also won its second consecutive NCAA indoor championship in May this year at New Balance in Boston.

With this performance, she gained Olympic Games qualification.

In January, San ran the third fastest collegiate time ever to win her first race of the season in the 600m with a time of 1:26.52.