GAMBEGA briefs journalists on health, others

The Coca-Cola Company in Gambia (GAMBEGA), in collaboration with Med Share has announced the donation of a 40ft container full of medical supplies to Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul.

The documentation for the container worth over $200, 000 was presented to the Hon. Minister of Health at a media event, organised by GAMBEGA at the Coco Ocean Hotel.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Adolfo Marti, the Country Manager of GAMBEGA Limited (the authorised bottler of Coca-Cola Company in The Gambia), stated that they produce and distribute drinks of various flavours, including Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Schweppes Tonic, Soda Water, Fanta Black current, Fanta Fruit Cocktail and Fanta Strawberry, Fruit Juices and Water.

Mr. Marti stated further that in addition to the donation of the medical containers, GAMBEGA had undertaken several community support projects in the recent past, including the renovation of the Accident and Emergency Ward of Francis Small Teaching Hospital at a cost of over $10, 000 in 2010, the ongoing Fanta Science and Mathematics competition among senior secondary schools in the country, and the construction of the first-ever Waste Water Treatment Plant in the country, among others.

Noting that GAMBEGA continues to generate significant revenue for the government in the form of taxes and duties, he said, it also creates employment for the teeming number of school leavers that join the company each year.

The Health Minister was represented at the ceremony by Mr. Alagie Saine, Director of Public Health Office of the West Coast Region.

While expressing thanks to Coca-cola for the gesture, he said, their intervention is a clear manifestation of their dedication and commitment to corporate social responsibilities.

Ms. Ama Bawuah, PAC’s Director of Coca-cola Company, another speaker at the event, maintained that the company was proud to join Med Share and the media fraternity in supporting health care system in The Gambia.

She emphasized Coca-cola system’s commitment to promoting active and healthy lifestyle in communities within which the company operates. “As a global business that operates locally and in almost every country in the world, the Coca-cola system is committed to sustainable support of the communities within which we live and work and we recognise that the physical and economic health and well-being of these communities and the success of our business are inextricably linked.”

For his part, Sergio Codonyer, Public Affairs and Communication Director of Equatorial Coca-Cola bottling company, the parent company of GAMBEGA Limited announced that they had already begun the process of selecting the required medical supplies with officials of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital.

Once the selection is completed, the forty-foot container loaded with Medical supplies will arrive in Banjul within 3 months of the order.

He averred that the Equatorial Coca-Cola bottling company has always been committed to ensuring a healthy Gambia and expressed his gratitude to the media for historical strong support of the company’s operations in the Gambia.

He cited the excellent media coverage during the 2010 Fifa and Coca-Cola World Cup trophy tour in The Gambia, among others.

Mr. Codonyer also intimated that Coca-Cola has launched a project, named 5 by 20, aimed at economically empowering five million women in African countries, including The Gambia by the year 2020.

The project will provide women with entrepreneurship opportunities within the Coca-cola value chain, as well as in other related industries and services.