Gambega
Limited, in partnership with Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and Medshare through
the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, yesterday donated a forty-Foot
container of medical supplies worth US$200,000 to SerreKunda and Bansang
Hospitals, at a ceremony held at the SerreKunda Hospital ground.
Speaking
at the handing over ceremony, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Saffie
Lowe-Ceesay, expressed great delight and pride for the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare and people of The Gambia to be presented with a 40-Foot
container of medical supplies by Gambega Company Ltd in collaboration with the
Coca Cola Africa Foundation and Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company.
This
was not the first time such items have been donated to the Ministry of Health
and Social Welfare because as a similar donation was made to EFSTH some time
ago, she revealed.
Minster
Lowe-Ceesay further revealed that the container they have received contains
wheel chairs, hospital beds and mattresses, furniture, assorted surgical items
in addition to several other health care equipment that would go a long way in
improving health service delivery.
“It
is important to note that healthcare is an expensive undertaking, hence the
need to forge partnership with the private sector cannot be overemphasized,”
she countered.
She called on all to emulate Gambega in
supporting the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for the realisation of her
policy goals and objectives.
She
assured that the donated items would through the supply chain and distribution
system to reach those communities/facilities most in need.
She
also thanked Gambega and its collaborating agencies for choosing The Gambia for
such a valuable donation.
Also
speaking at the handing over ceremony, the Director of Health Services, Modou
Lamin Waggeh, said medical equipment are tools that are indispensable for
effective and efficient preventive, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation as
well as the attainment of internationally agreed health related development
goals such as the millennium declaration.
Mr Eugene Allen, the Country Manager of
Gambega Ltd, said over the last five years, the Coca-Cola Foundation has
donated three containers of medical equipment to RVTH which is benefiting
thousands of people residing in the country.
“As
a global business operating on a local scale, we work together in harmony with
all our local partners and stakeholders in order to preserve quality health and
safe natural environment for our future generations,” he stated.