HuGAA Founder Leads Historic Launch of World Human Genetics Day in The Gambia

Written by: Michaella Faith Wright

The founder and chairperson of the Human Genetics Awareness Association (HuGAA), Sainabou Laye Ndure, on March 30th 2026, led the launch of World Human Genetics Day in The Gambia, calling for urgent action to bridge the gap between genetic science and public understanding.

Speaking at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Banjul, Ndure described the occasion as a defining global moment initiated from Africa. “Today is not just an event… we are not joining a tradition today, we are beginning one,” she said.

As founder of HuGAA, Ndure stressed the need to make genetics accessible and understood within communities. She shared a childhood experience of witnessing a child misunderstood due to a genetic condition later identified as spinal muscular atrophy. “When we do not understand genetics, we create fear… and that fear leads to blame and unnecessary suffering,” she said.

Ndure highlighted the prevalence of genetic conditions such as sickle cell disease, G6PD deficiency, and diabetes in The Gambia, stressing that stigma continues to affect families. “A genetic condition is not a punishment… it is a biological reality,” she added.

She called for increased investment in genetic testing and the establishment of African genomic databases, noting that fewer than three percent of global genetic studies include African populations.

Ndure also urged governments, researchers, and global institutions to support the recognition of March 30th as World Human Genetics Day. “The science of genetics belongs to all humanity,” she said, adding that real impact comes when knowledge reaches the communities it is meant to serve.