The
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country office in The Gambia yesterday
handed over two new Toyota double-cabin pickups worth over D2 million to the
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The
handing-over was done during a courtesy call on the new Minister of Health and
Social Welfare Saffie Lowe-Ceesay, and was held at the Ministry of Health in
Banjul.
The
courtesy call was meant to renew UNFPA’s partnership with the health sector of
the country in making sure that no woman dies giving life.
The
head of the UNFPA office in The Gambia, Kunle Adeniyi, handed over the keys of
two Toyota pickups worth to the Health minister as part of his organization’s
continued support to Health System Strengthening in The Gambia.
The
UNFPA country official indicated that his organisation has been a key partner
of the Gambia government for over four decades, and would continue to support
initiatives geared towards providing Gambians with quality health services,
particularly on maternal health.
He
highlighted the cordial relationship between the Ministry of Health and Social
Welfare and his organization, and assured the minister that this would be
continually strengthened to enhance the quality of health service delivery in
The Gambia, and would not stop until they ultimately reach the last mile.
“UNFPA
is the sole provider of contraceptives and maternal lifesaving drugs in The
Gambia as in many other countries, and that partnership with government will
continue to ensure that every child born has a mother to guide his or her
growth and development,” he added.
Receiving
the donated vehicles, Health minister Saffie Lowe-Ceesay commended UNFPA for
its long-standing partnership and recalled that this was not the first time her
ministry had received support of such nature from the organisation.
She
said there are many areas where the ministry of Health needs support, and
called for continued collaboration between the two institutions.
The
donation came at the right time to support the government’s initiative to
provide accessible and quality health services to the population.
The
delivery of quality maternal health services would be further enhanced with
this support, the minister added.
