The presentation ceremony of the health and hygiene promotion support, held at the NEA head office, serves as a token of appreciation to the security forces for their immense participation during NEA’s cleansing exercises throughout the country.
According the NEA, during the cleansing exercise in preparation for the OIC summit in April 2024, the was immense need for cleansing materials, which was a major constraint that affected the scope and quality of work done then. As a result, the three councils of BAC, KMC and BCC and the Tourism Board decided to provide the security forces with enough cleansing tools in their patriotic regular cleaning exercise.
The materials donated included 57 rakes, 50 spades, 25 cutlasses, 50 wheelbarrows, 6 packets of nose mask, 35 packets of gloves, which will all be under the custody of the Joint Operational Command(JOC), the focal point for security issues, for the usage of all the sister forces to foster environmental stewardship.
In his remarks, Dawuda Badjie, Executive Director, NEA, said that since the introduction of the national cleansing exercise ,the security forces have been very instrumental in making sure that the initiative is successful.
While expressing gratitude to the security forces, ED Badjie posited that NEA is in charge of environmental issues “but addressing the issues is a collective responsibility as the repercussions does not spare any one”.
He said the resolutions of the past OIC Summit hosted by the Gambia included environmental management as vital, adding that with the president as the chairperson for the next 3 years of the OIC, Gambians should consider and ensure maintaining a healthier environment always.
Borry Mansa Demba, Program Manager of NEA, recalled that since the restoration of the agency’s cleansing exercises, the security forces have actively supported the initiative.
Sequel to those efforts and support, they concluded during a high level task force meeting to provide the forces with tools, he added.
Masaneh Fofana, Operation Commander at the Joint Operation Center (JOC), said that during cleansing exercises the security forces encounter difficulties in accessing adequate tools, which they have long been advocating for.
He expressed gratitude to the donors for thoughtful and meaningful assistance in maintaining a healthier nation, and assured that the tools would be used productively.
