By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, The Gambia’s Minister of Health, and Professor Ibrahima Sey, Senegal’s Minister of Health and Social Actions, jointly launched the Gambia-Senegal 2025 Synchronized Bed Net Distribution Campaign in the Gambian border village of Kerr Ali. The ambitious initiative aims to distribute over 5 million insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) to communities across both nations, bolstering efforts to eliminate malaria.
The campaign, themed “Mosquitoes Know No Borders: I Have My Insecticide-Treated Net, I Tie It, I Sleep Under It” (“Sanke Bou Gnou Nandal: Amko, Takk Ko, Tedda Ci” in Wolof), underscores the collaborative spirit of the two nations. The launch drew key health sector stakeholders, including representatives from WHO, UNICEF, Catholic Relief Services, Medical Research Council, Plan International Senegal, and PATH International.
Dr. Samateh announced that over the next four weeks, 5 million new-generation ITNs, which offer greater protection against malaria than standard pyrethroid-only nets, will be distributed free of charge. The Gambia will distribute 1.6 million nets across all regions, while Senegal will cover the remainder. “This is a significant milestone for our two great countries and reflects the fraternal Senegalo-Gambia relationship,” Samateh said, emphasizing the campaign’s role in improving public health through joint efforts like the Health for Peace initiative.
This marks the third synchronized ITN campaign since 2019, building on the malaria cross-border collaboration established in 2018. Samateh highlighted the progress made through strong political commitment, sustained investment, and community engagement. “With effective collaboration across multilateral and bilateral partners, we can optimize resources to defeat malaria,” he noted, stressing that investing in malaria prevention saves lives and yields far-reaching socioeconomic benefits.
The Gambian Health Minister called for sustained financial and political commitments to address evolving challenges in malaria elimination. “The goal of eliminating malaria by 2030 is within reach, but it requires innovative approaches, appropriate tools, and collaboration across governments, private sectors, and civil society,” he said. He warned against complacency, noting that malaria continues to claim lives, particularly among young children, despite being preventable and treatable.
Professor Ibrahima Sey echoed the call for collaboration, urging stakeholders to ensure the nets reach all intended beneficiaries. He emphasized the importance of promoting consistent use of ITNs by every family member, every night, year-round, to maximize their life-saving impact.
The campaign reflects a shared commitment to tackling malaria, a disease without borders. By leveraging partnerships and mobilizing resources, Gambia and Senegal aim to reduce the malaria burden and move closer to the 2030 elimination goal. Dr. Samateh concluded, “Continued political and financial commitments from all partners will be essential to sustain this momentum and drive progress.”
The synchronized effort serves as a model for cross-border health initiatives, demonstrating the power of unity in the fight against preventable diseases.
