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Tankatanka Foundation embarks on tree planting

Jul 8, 2010, 1:34 PM | Article By: Abdoulie Nyockeh

Tankatanka Foundation, in collaboration with Sunray Energy Foundation over the week embarked on a massive tree-planting exercise, at Tankatanka Foundation Psychiatric Hospital in Brusubi, Kombo North District in Western Region.

The tree-planting exercise was supported by Standard Charted Bank and the Gambia Armed Forces, who also took part in the exercise.

Speaking at the tree-planting exercise, the Coordinator of Sunray Energy Foundation, Hans Noteboom, said the foundation has deemed it necessary to plant 3,500 Bougainvillea plants along the inner walls of the institution.

He noted that the idea of the exercise was to respond to President Jammeh's clarion call for every Gambians to plant a tree.

According to him, "the aim is to ensure green at the institution, as well as prevent patients to escape after the plants have fully grown along the wall."

He said the organisation is currently executing a garden project in the TTPH premises that will include growing of fruits and vegetables for the patients. He added that this project has been donated by the government of The Netherlands through the Dutch embassy in Dakar.

He asserted that the exercise will give the participants the opportunity to learn about the Tankatanka Psychiatric Hospital. Noting that currently more than one hundred patients are living there under medical treatment, he used the occasion to thank the Standard Chartered Bank and the Gambia Armed Force for their participation and cooperation.

For her part, the Head of the Tanka Tanka Foundation, Anna Bourman described the event as very successful in the sense that their partners have demonstrated a very high sense of commitment and willingness during this exercise.

Mr. Ousman Njie, the Head of Consumer Banking at the Standard Chartered Bank thanked the management of the TankaTanka Foundation and their collaborators for organising the exercise, noting that the planted trees would go a long way towards serving generations yet unborn.

He urged Gambians to participate in tree-planting, describing it as very essential in life.