Meet the Public Health Officers Tour 2015

It's just one day to go! I'm getting ready to meet Public Health Officers in the health regions across the country. This is the first tour of our Executive Committee and I'm excited to have the opportunity to meet and interact with public health professionals and hear their concerns and discuss what  the Gambia Association of Public Health Officers (GAPHO) can do for its members. The tour has five specific objectives which are to:

1. Present GAPHO’s work plan covering the period April 2015 – March 2016 and update members on the activities of  the Executive Committee; 
2. Share and discuss the MOU between the MOH&SW and FSQA- with a particular emphasis on the obligations of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare;
3. Discuss the concerns and challenges of PHOs in the health regions;
4. Identify contact persons for GAPHO in all the health regions to facilitate communication;
5. Sensitise/orient members on the code of conduct of PHOs in The Gambia.

My expectations are that there will be an impressive response from the regions and that public health officers will discusss their concerns and challenges with us.

To whom is given, much more is expected!

I am starting this blog with a  letter I wrote on the 9th March 2015 addressed to members of the Gambia Association of Public Health Officers (GAPHO) who elected me as the association's president. I am reproducing  the letter here to remind  me of the promise I made on election day. 

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for electing us into office to lead the affairs of GAPHO for the next 2 years. On behalf of our team, I wish to express our since thanks and appreciation for the trust and confidence for giving us this mandate.  We are aware of the huge responsibility that lies ahead of us as well as the expectations from members. Let me assure you of our team’s full commitment towards the aims and objectives of GAPHO and our resolve to meet your expectations. We solicit your unflinching support and understanding along the way.

The establishment of a Public Health Council will be a top priority of our team and we will work closely with the Chief Public Health Officer and other actors to support the ongoing process.In the coming weeks and months, we will put a lot of efforts in rebuilding the image of the public health cadre and will draw up a programme for the next two years. As promised on Election Day, we will consult with all of you and will request your full cooperation and valuable input to facilitate the attainment of GAPHO’s objectives.

Once again, thank you very much for giving us the mandate to lead the affairs of GAPHO for the next two years.  May God bless the association and advance public health in The Gambia.

Best wishes,
Balla Musa Joof, President