THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA’S COMBINED REPORT ON THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN & PEOPLES’ RIGHTS & INITIAL REPORT ON THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA to October. However, Government through the Ministry of Health has taken several measures to control and prevent Malaria in The Gambia. The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Medical Research Council, World Health Organization and other stakeholders in the Health Sector hold continuous public awareness programmes on the prevention of Malaria such as the use of treated mosquito nets and indoor residual spraying. The Government also avails the public hospitals and health centres with drugs and diagnostic materials for treatment of malaria free of charge, to ensure access to health for all. Other measures taken by the Government are, procurement of effective and efficient Ante-malarial drugs (Artemether Lumefantrine) for the entire population, provision of free malaria drugs (SP) to all pregnant women in the country, procurement and distribution of long lasting insecticide treated nets to the entire population, Indoor Residual Spraying of all rooms and structures in targeted regions every year and procurement of other drugs. Government also engages in continuous training of health workers at all levels, including malaria control and prevention activities, village health workers in home management of malaria to enhance their knowledge and skills in malaria case management at village level. The Government has made continuing training of village Health workers since they are the immediate medical contact persons at the village level. They are continuously trained on how to apply the RDT. The Government also, on a regular basis supplies the village health workers with kits for the RDT and malaria drugs to enhance access to malaria services at village level. The village health workers have also been provided with bicycles for ease of transportation, in order to make them more efficient in the provision of timely medical services in their community Government has also established and expanded laboratory facilities across the country, and has recruited and trained more laboratory personnel. Government has also invested in the purchase of laboratory equipment and other consumables, which it provides on a regular basis to hospitals and health centers. 68