The presentation, held at the Serrekunda General Hospital in Kanifing, brought together government officials, sponsors and families of the first babies of the year 2016 through the “Operation Save the Children Foundation.”
The initiative, which used to be centred in the Kombos, has now been decentralised to Bwiam, Farafenni and Bansang hospitals, with sponsors from Gamcel/Gamtel, GTBank and the Conteh Family.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, VP Njie-Saidy said it was important that this year’s presentation was decentralized, which “shows the interest the First Lady of the country has on the welfare of children and women of the country”.
She added that “Operation Save the Children” is a new initiative, but over a short time in operation it has made “many successes” and all that was part of Madam Jammeh’s love for Gambians.
She thanked the nurses and doctors for their continued dedication to helping others, whilst promising to take the hospital’s challenges to the President to help make the hospital one of a kind in the country, as the President’s top priority is to make a healthy nation.
She also thanked the sponsors and called for more sponsors to come on board to help the health sector of the country.
She also advised the hospital management to take the step of going out to private organisations and companies in search for help, as the government could not do it all alone.
Aisha Bangura of Tallinding, Amie Joof from Sinchu Balia and Fatoumatta Touray gave birth to the first baby boy of the year, first baby girl of the year and third baby of the year respectively.
An amount of D150,000 was given to the first baby boy of the year, and D128,000 to the first baby girl of the year from the First Lady.
Kanifing Municipal Council donated D50,000, the Conteh Family D5,000 and GTBank D20,000 to the first baby boy and girl of the year, whilst each of the mothers received D10,000.
Gamtel/Gamcel donated baskets full of baby and lactating mother materials to each of the newly-born babies and their mothers.
