The
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on
Tuesday signed a Status Agreement with the government of The Gambia through the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The
agreement was signed by Elhadj As Sey, secretary general of IFRC who was in The
Gambia on a two-day working visit.
While
briefing members of the media on the objectives and benefits of the agreement,
The Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS) SolHEALTH and UB-ONE also handed over a
cheque of two million, two hundred and five thousand dalasis to the Ministry of
Health for the sponsorship of 45 Community Health Nursing Students enrolled at
the Community Health Nurse School in Mansakonko and the renovation of the
school facility.
In
receiving the cheque at Ngala Lodge, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, the minister of
Health, said the health sector inherited difficult situations but was quick to
add that they couldn’t keep on ruing the past and thus need to get together to
build for the future.
He
described health as an important sector for nation building, noting that
without health people cannot do other things.
“You
can have best of equipment but if you do not have the right people with the
capacity then the equipment become useless,” he posited and therefore expressed
delight with the sponsorship.
According
to him, patients present themselves to them very late at health facilities –
something he described as a challenge. The effect of training community health
nurses will be felt in communities, secondary and even tertiary levels, he
said.
He
assured that the funds will be put to good use, saying presently at the
Ministry of Health, there is accountability and good governance.
Alasan
Senghore, secretary general Gambia Red Cross Society, explained that GRCS is a
humanitarian based organisation enacted by an Act of Parliament in 1966 to
prevent and alleviate human suffering where ever it may be found.
SG
Senghore added that the Red Cross acts as auxiliary to public authorities in
the humanitarian and development fields and is involved in a range of
activities such as Disaster Risk Reduction and Relief, First Aid Services,
Health Livelihood, Promotion of International Humanitarian Law, Youth and
Children Empowerment, Gender and Diversity among others.
Jatto
Sillah, president, Gambia Red Cross Society thanked all their partners for
their support, saying they are implementing a lot of projects and hope the
fruitful cooperation with the partners will continue.
He
pointed out that a lot of people consider Red Cross as emergency responders but
said “we are more than that.” According to him, Red Cross is willing to go to
the last door to help when it is hard.
Elhadj
As Sy, secretary general of International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies, said the status agreement is to provide humanitarian
assistance to people in need.
He
said they are not any better than the people they serve but are just more
privileged. He reiterated their commitment to continue with The Gambia Red
Cross and Gambia government.
According
to him, humanitarianism is a journey that will never stop as long as “we are
united.” He described community nursing as very important and has to
continue.