The MARCAD Programme contributes in the fight against COVID-19 at the Faculty of Medicine/UCAD

The Malaria Research Capacity Development (MARCAD) programme at UCAD has donated personal protective materials to the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology (FMPO) of the Cheikh Anta Diop University, on Monday 24th August, to support the Senegal national COVID-19 response.

The equipment includes face masks, hand washbasins, hydroalcoholic gels, thermo flashes and decontamination equipment. The items were handed to Prof. Abdoulaye Samb, Dean of the said faculty by Prof. Oumar Gaye, Director of MARCAD in presence of Mr. Fallou Ngom, Chairman of the educational committee of the Student Association of the Faculty of Medicine and members of the administrative staff.

This MARCAD donation is part of the Community and Public Engagement activities carried out by the programme since its starts in 2016.

The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine praised the MARCAD initiative as timely.

"Given the urgency with the preparations for this week's exams, it was not easy to have adequate materials on time. MARCAD responded quickly to our request. These materials will allow us to resume courses and exams in a secure environment. We are very happy of  MARCAD's commitment and support. Today we can expect a resumption of face-to-face teaching in very good conditions at the faculty of medicine "declared the Dean, Prof. Abdoulaye Samb.

This activity is in line with our programme’s objectives, according to MARCAD Director Prof. Oumar Gaye. ‘’An important component of the MARCAD programme is Community and Public Engagement. It's also our role to assist the community especially in this context of COVID19" said Prof. Oumar Gaye.

"This MARCAD donation comes on time, because the face-to-face exams are scheduled for this week and with this context of Covid, MARCAD brings its assistance to our association which  role is to defend the interests of students and their well-being," said Fallou Ngom, Chairman of the educational committee of the Student Association of the Faculty of Medicine.

"MARCAD is one of the programmes that provides guidance and support at many levels to our faculty. We thank the MARCAD programme funders for their support to Senegal and Africa as a whole. There are other projects in the institution which will surely follow the example of MARCAD "underlined Pr Abdoulaye Samb, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine

MARCAD considers Community and Public Engagement as an essential component of its research and training programme.