The committee, spearheaded by the First Lady Madam Zeinab Yahya Jammeh, earlier last week gave out a whopping D310, 000 donated by President Yahya Jammeh to the first babies of the new year.
The sum was presented to the babies by the Vice President Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy.
The first baby of the year, a male weighing 3.1kg, was born at Brikama Health Centre at 12.02am to one Salimata Bah of Farato; the second, a female weighing 3.5kg was delivered at Fajikunda Health Centre at 12.03am to one Haddy Gaye of Sanchaba Sulay Jobe.
The third baby, a male weighing 2.9kg, was delivered at 12.05am at AFPRC Hospital in Farafenni to one Isatou Bah of Ballangharr; whilst the fourth newborn, a female weighing 3.3kg was born 1:01am at Burusubi to one Ndaga Bah.
The first baby was given D40, 000 to take home while D80,000 was to be deposited on his behalf at the trust fund at FiBank; the second baby received D20, 000 to take home with D40, 000 put aside for the trust fund; the third baby also received D20, 000 with D40, 000 assigned to the trust fund.
At Friday’s presentation to the first twins of the year, Salimatou Bah, the mother from Kiang Tattaba in the Lower River Region also received D30, 000 from the Gambia International Airlines.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Tombong Saidy, chairman of Operation Save A Baby, explained that the first baby was born at Sintet at 7.20pm on Wednesday 1st January 2014, but due to complications the mother was referred to the Edward Francis Teaching Hospital where she delivered the second baby the following day.
Saidy further explained that a total amount of D30, 000 will be given to the mother, while the rest will be deposited in an account at FiBank for the education of the children.
According to him, a fundraising drive will be launched to raise D10 million to support all the maternity wards of the health facilities countrywide.
Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, a board member of Operation Save A Baby, for her part commended President Jammeh for the continued support to Operation Save A Baby.
She also used the opportunity to commend the Gambia International Airlines for the donation of D30, 000.
The Chief Medical Director Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Dr Amar Jafari, lauded the Gambian leader and the First Lady for their support to the hospital and the health sector, in particular.
Lamin Cham, the commercial director, said Gambia International Airline’s intervention is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.
‘‘The GIA is willing, and will always support the initiatives of the First Lady,’’ Cham stated.
