Kids with Scabies
By Fatou Sillah
The Ministry of Health has officially confirmed an outbreak of scabies at Dara Medina Suwaneh, a Quranic school located in Brufut Heights. The announcement was made in a press release issued on Tuesday, in which the ministry stated that it is working in coordination with health partners to respond to the situation.
According to the statement, scabies is a highly contagious skin condition caused by microscopic mites that burrow into the skin, resulting in severe itching and rashes. The condition spreads quickly in overcrowded and unsanitary environments.
“It spreads rapidly in overcrowded and unhygienic environments. During our recent assessment, 101 minors were examined, and 57 cases of scabies were confirmed,” the ministry revealed.
The statement also highlighted the urgent health concerns facing the affected children, citing inadequate medical care at the time of the investigation as a contributing factor to the outbreak.
“These children are facing serious health risks, worsened by a lack of adequate medical care at the time of the investigations. The Ministry is working hard to provide immediate treatment, improve hygiene conditions, and prevent further spread of the disease,” it added.
The Ministry of Health urged the general public—particularly those operating residential and educational institutions—to maintain proper hygiene standards and conduct regular medical checkups to safeguard the health of children in their care.
“We remain committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of all communities across The Gambia. Updates regarding the ongoing investigation will be shared in due course,” the statement concluded.