The Medicines Control Agency (MCA), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office, The Gambia successfully concluded a five-day capacity-building training for Staff of the Directorate of Evaluation and Registration on Biological Products Dossier Evaluation. The training took place at the Epidemiology and Disease Control (EDC) Conference Hall in Kotu East from 17 to 21 November 2025.
The training aimed at strengthening Staff capacity in evaluating Biological Products, which is an increasingly important area in medical product regulation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms. Mariama Simah, Director of Evaluation and Registration, highlighted the significance of the training, noting that it is the first of its kind in eight years. She emphasized that the knowledge gained will greatly enhance Staff productivity and support MCA’s aspiration to attain WHO Maturity Level 3, aligning with international regulatory standards.
Ms. Aja Bintou Jawla, Ms. Fatou Cham, and Mr. Sarjo Ceesay, all Regulatory Officers, expressed appreciation for the training, stating that it equipped them with valuable skills in evaluating, analyzing, and reporting on Biological Products. They noted that the sessions deepened their understanding of Biological Products evaluation, covering areas such as the generation of genetic material from living organisms, manufacturing processes, shipping and storage conditions, stability, and batch verification, among others.
These competencies, they noted, will enable them to better identify substandard and falsified medical products in line with international safety standards.
Lastly, the participants extended their gratitude to WHO, Country Office, The Gambia for funding the training and to the resource person from the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), Ghana for impacting knowledge and sharing experiences.
They also thanked MCA Management for the opportunity and expressed hope for similar capacity-building initiatives in the future.