Francis DeGaulle Njie Foundation held its annual motivational lecture at the Gambia
Girls Guides Hall, MDI Road, on the Theme; ‘Career in Becoming a Health-Care
Professional’ on Friday.
Francis
DeGaulle Njie Foundation (FDNF) is a registered charitable organisation,
established by the family of the late Francis DeGaulle Njie in commemoration of
the values of excellence and dedication to service that he stood for throughout
his short exemplary life.
The
aim of the foundation is to help young people that are interested in science to
achieve excellence in academic pursuits.
FDNF
also compliments the efforts of the Government in providing information,
education and support to individuals and families affected by cancer.
In
his opening remarks, the vice chairman of FDNF, Julius Freeman, said Francis
DeGaulle Njie Foundation is a charitable foundation built to give support to
students.
He
said the foundation was set up in 2006 by the family of the late Francis
DeGaulle Njie, with the objective of enhancing the educational system in The
Gambia by providing support to the science students, to engage people in health
education and promotion as well as to provide support to affected individuals
and families.
According
to him, the foundation has been inviting Senior Secondary School students in
the Greater Banjul Area to participate in an interactive motivational lecture
whereby professionals in science-related disciplines are invited as panelists
to talk on their fields of study.
He
said this is intended to serve as an inspiration to science students in their
academic and career aspirations.
“It
is also believed that such lectures will give direction to young people both in
and out of school in making the right career choices,” he said.
Dr
Bully Camara, from the Medical Research Council-The Gambia was one of the
Healthcare Professionals that consented to serve as a panelist.
He
said it was advisable to go to the University of The Gambia as a science
student to study medicine than to wait for scholarships to study abroad.
“It is easier to get jobs in the science field
than their other career pathways,” he added.
Lamin
Marong, a senior nurse said the fundamental responsibility of a nurse is to
promote health, to prevent illness as well as to restore health and to
alleviate suffering.
Mr
Marong added that nurses manage the basic care of patients entrusted to their
charge in health institutions so as to supervise and manage hospital wards and
health centres.
Ms
Penda Sidibeh, a physiotherapist at the Poly Clinic said when she came back
from Cuba in 2009, she realised that there was only one qualified
physiotherapist in The Gambia and healthcare was one of the most important
aspects of socio-economic progress in the country.