Action
Gambia, a Norway-based NGO on Tuesday extended benevolence to the Edward
Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) with the donation of an assortment of
medical items and a desk top computer.
The
items, which include cartons of gloves, cover shoes and aprons, were delivered
to hospital officials at a presentation ceremony held at the hospital ground in
Banjul. The donation, which is an annual affair, is designed to boost
operational efficiency at the country’s main referral hospital.
Presenting
the items, Alhagie Jobarteh, leader of Action Gambia said, his NGO is based in
Bergen in Norway and that in the past they have been supportive to many
institutions in the country among them, schools and even individuals.
However,
the latest move, he said, was necessitated by an earlier visit to the hospital
during which they enquired from hospital officials about the priority needs of
the hospital.
The
donation of the aforementioned items, he said, was in pursuant to that move in
their quest to contribute their quota to national development.
He
promised that they would continue supporting the country’s main referral
hospital even though they cannot do it all.
Receiving
the items, Dr. Charles Roberts, deputy chief medical director at EFSTH, thanked
Action Gambia for their foresight, further describing the items as useful items
that would go a long in enhancing service delivery at the hospital.
The
donated items, he said, are always in demand at the hospital.
“These
are items that we use on a continuous basis, so we end up buying it
continually. So any help that we get from the Diaspora is welcome. So we say a
big thanks to Action Gambia and we hope this will not be the end.”
Dr.
Roberts thus called on Gambians in the Diaspora especially those who want to
contribute to the development of the country’s main referral hospital to liaise
with hospital officials to know their immediate needs.
In
the same vein and on the same day, Action Gambia presented tables, chairs and
school materials to Albion and Muhammedan Lower Basic Schools in Banjul.
Elizabeth
Chapman and Yafatou Mbye, headmistresses of Albion and Muhammedan Lower Basic
Schools respectively, hailed the Norway-based NGO for its constant support to
the development of their various schools. Both described the gesture as timely
considering the importance of tables and chairs in ensuring effective learning.
The
items, they acknowledged would go a long way in addressing some of their needs.
