The
Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) through the
Turkish Ambassador in Banjul yesterday donated medical materials to the
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The
donated items include hemoglobin test meter, hemoglobin strips, Glucometer,
lanset, lanset pen, 50 piece box, thermometer standard digital, aneroid blood
pressure meter, sterile pad, antiseptic disinfectant solution, elastic
band/bandage, hydrophilic cotton, compressed gauze bandage 7,5 cm 7.5 cm
100-pcs pack, examination gloves, sterile gloves, needle holder, forceps,
non-absorbable surgical sutures, injectors 5cc, injector 2.5cc, injector 10cc,
intracath set, intravenous fluid set, physiological saline 500cc bag,
physiological saline 1000cc bag scissors surgical 2nd quality, baby weight
scale, adult weight scale, Urine strip 100-pcs pack, foldable stretcher 2 fold,
oxygen mask, nebulizer device, nebulizer mask adult, nebulizer mask child,
wheelchair standard, hospital microscope, tongue depressors 100-pcs pack,
microscope slides 100-pcs pack, microscope cover glass 100-pcs pack, catheter,
urine bag, aspirator, aspiration catheter 100-pcs pack, white coat, patient
bedstead with bed, portable ultrasound device, hospital bed kit linens pillows,
pulse oximeter, examination table adult, hospital folding screen 3 fold, and
dressing trolley stainless steel.
Speaking
at the ceremony, Ergin Soner, Turkish Ambassador to The Gambia, said the
valuable medical materials were secured by TIKA for The Gambia upon a request
from the Gambian side.
He
said the donated medical items are intended for five major health centres
throughout The Gambia as was requested by the Gambia government.
According
to him, it is apparent that the main idea of distributing the materials
throughout the country is to help the Gambia government in its efforts at
upgrading the medical system and infrastructure of the health centres.
It
would also drastically reduce the burden on the rural people, especially those
in small villages, in their quest to have access to basic medical needs, he said.
“I
have the conviction that these medical items will be used for their intended
purpose and will also contribute and strengthen the capacity of The Gambia
health system, particularly in the rural areas,” Ambassador Soner added.
The
Turkish diplomat further stated that from his experience and knowledge in The
Gambia, he would also like to point out that The Gambia would “surely attain”
its goals in the health sector.
He
assured all that Turkey would continue to contribute to The Gambia’s
development goals both in the scope of capacity building training and other
material or equipment donations.
Babanding
Sabally, director of pharmacies, said this was the best donation ever as all
the items are brand new items, while thanking TIKA for the donation.
He
said the Ministry of Health has a donation policy which is based on expressed
needs, and urged all donors to respect their donation policy, adding that the
donated items would make an impact in the healthcare delivery system in the
country.
Presiding
over the handing-over ceremony, the Health and Social Welfare Minister, Dr.
Omar Sey, said the gesture was all geared towards boosting the health sector.
He
commended the donors for their intervention, which he described as “very
timely”.
Minister
Sey assured the donors that the materials would be put into good use or its
intended purpose.
Other
donations from various organizations were also made and handed over to the
Ministry of Health to help ease health service delivery in the country.
