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Momodou
Denmark
11790 Posts |
 Posted - 09 May 2007 : 10:12:27
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MRC SHOWCASE AT 60
By Madiba Singhateh
Thursday 4 May marked 60 years of the existence of the Medical Research Council (MRC) in The Gambia. As part of events marking the celebration, three new clinical services were opened. They include a Haematology laboratory at the MRC grounds in Fajara named after Professor Hilton Whittle of MRC The Gambia, an emeritus scientist, who has worked at the unit since 1980.
Professor Tumani Corrah, the Unit’s Director, in his speech at the ceremony expounded on the role his institution is playing in fighting diseases in the tropics.
He said MRC was established in The Gambia in 1947 and it remains the United Kingdom’s largest investment in medical research in the tropics. He said MRC employs over 750 people from more than 20 different countries, including The Gambia.
Mr. Corrah added that their success in The Gambia is built on a true and dynamic partnership with the Department of State for Health.
He said the Hepatitis B and Heamophillus influenza Type B vaccines followed successful trials of vaccines in The Gambia and it contributed towards making The Gambia’s EPI programme one of the best in Africa. He mentioned that they are happy to complement the Government’s efforts in providing health care for the nation at Fajara, and their clinical facilities include well-equipped clinical laboratories, ultra sound scanning X-ray endoscopy facilities.
The Chief Executive Officer of MRC UK Professor Colin Blakemore threw light on the importance of MRC and the role they play in the development of The Gambia. The British High Commissioner Mr. Phil Jinkinson, OBE said the funding from the UK government currently stands at 10 million pounds per year. He said this funding has provided the long term stability needed to support the necessary infrastructure and the ability to retain excellent scientists from all over the world. Mr. Jinkinson added that 30 different nationalities work at MRC The Gambia, including 750 Gambians.
He said over the past years, the MRC Gambia unit has contributed over 350 million dalasi to the Gambian economy through local salaries and local purchases of goods and services within the country. He also said it invested a further 15 million dalasi in staff training across the board at all levels and in a variety of disciplines and unit work. He also talked about welcoming of student attachments at MRC from the University Medical School of Science.
He said since the Heamophillus influenzae type B vaccine was introduced, the number of cases has dropped from over 200 to zero per 100,000 babies under a year old and from 60 to zero cases per 100,000 or children younger than five.
Jinkinson said the clinic laboratories at MRC provide diagnostic services including haematology, biochemistry, vaccine and microbiology, X-ray, OPD and ward patients as well as for patients recruited in clinical vaccine trials.
He said his government is pleased to support the ongoing work of MRC.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 52/2007, 7 – 8 May 2007
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