BANJUL, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Gambia's Information Minister Demba Ali Jawo said on Wednesday that his country is on track in eliminating tuberculosis and malaria.

"The national TB treatment has a success rate of 85 percent, meeting the global target of 85 percent, and the management of Drug Resistance Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in The Gambia has been strengthened over the years," he said at a press conference in Kanifing.

Jawo, who is also the spokesperson of the government, added that the National Malaria Control Program in 2017 conducted a visibility event to fight against the tropical disease.

He said residual spraying was used as a strategy which was implemented in the Central River Region and Upper River Region of the country to control the epidemic.

The Medical Research Council says on its website that The Gambia has been successful in reducing the burden of malaria thanks to the usage of long-lasting insecticide bed nets.