By Alagie Babou Jallow & Jainaba Kargbo
The Ministry of Health on Friday August 19 held a press briefing to update the public on the progress of the ongoing Digital Birth and Health Insurance registration campaign.
Mr. Sanjally Trawally, the Deputy Director of Health Promotion and Education at the Ministry of Health said there was the need for the update due to the many misconceptions and rumours especially about the documents required for the registration.
He took the opportunity to call on the public to be patient while the connectivity/network issue is being sorted out by the technicians.
Amie Dibba, Supervisor of the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistic reminded about the eligibility criteria. She said the following four categories of people are entitled: Person born in The Gambia to both or one parent; person born in The Gambia to parents who are non Gambians; person born in The Gambia to parents who are refugees residing in The Gambia and person born outside The Gambia to Gambian parents.
She said the Ministry has plan to cater for those in the diaspora after the end of this ongoing campaign. “In this campaign all those who are supposed to have this document should be present in person”.
Essa Camara, Communication Officer, Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, repelled the rumour that foreigners are being given the birth certificate while citizens are denied. He assured that the staff are well trained for the job and that whoever is denied is for a genuine reason.
