At the presentation held at the health education directorate unit office in Kotu,Gauch Global Company in China was the first to make a presentation of various medical equipment.
The UNDP donated 20 motor bicycles, 20 computers, 13 laptops and other items, whilst WFP donated personal protection equipment worth US$403,404.28.
In receiving the donated items on behalf of the Gambia government,Health minister Omar Sey thanked Gauch Global company, WFP and UNDP Gambia offices for donating such important items to his ministry, which are geared towards strengthening the work of the staff against Ebola.
“These items came at a right time for my ministry, and on behalf of the government I thank the donors, especially Gauch Global Company, who came all the way from China and, in particular, the Gambian consul in China, Abubacarr Jawara, for his efforts in making sure my ministry gets these items on time,” Minister Sey said.
According to Minister Sey, the donated items would complement the good work the national blood transfusion service is doing through the directorates of the National Public Health Services.
He thanked the Gambian consul in China, Aboubacarr Jawara, for demonstrating his love for the country.
The items, Minister Sey added, would go a long way in helping the needy people of The Gambia, especially to those in the hard-to-reach areas of the country.
According to him, this was one of the best donations his ministry had received so far.
He said most of the people who are in need of blood are poor people living in the remotest part of the country, noting that under President Jammeh’s government, health services would reach the doorstep of every Gambian.
The Gambian consul to China, Aboubacarr Jawara, who was behind the gesture, thanked the Gambian leader for his visionary leadership in the country, especially for paving the way for outsiders to bring in donated items to Gambians with no hindrance.
“All these materials were available to the health ministry thanks to the efforts of Madam Mariama Jammeh, programme manager, national blood transfusion unit, who gave us this idea of assisting her ministry with different types of medicaments,” Jawara said.
They did similar donation to the government of Angola and other companies in that country, and this time they decided to extend their helping hands to the government of The Gambia, by donating this materials to the health ministry, he said.
Ms Jammeh, programme manager, national blood transfusion unit under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, promised that the donated materials would be put into good use by her ministry.
“These items will also help us strengthen our services, and I thank the Gambian consul in China and his counterpart, Chang, for their kind aid to my ministry.”
According to the WFP country director, Ms Victoria Ginja, her office would work with the health ministry to strengthen the government’s capacity in its fight to protect The Gambia from Ebola.
Ms Ginja further said the need for protective clothing in any Ebola response could not be overemphasized, thus these PPE kits comprises examination gloves, disposable aprons, overalls, hoods, elastic waist, wrist and angles, disposable waste bags and protective googles, to name a few.
UNDP resident coordinator Ade Mamoyane Lekoetje also spoke at the presentation ceremony.