The Trust Bank management handed over 16 new wheelchairs to the organisation for onward distribution to their members across the country, as the bank has been extending humanitarian gestures to organizations for differently abled individuals and vowed to continue supporting them.
Speaking during the presentation held at the Fayda 1 Radio in Wellingara, the Bank’s managing director, Njilan Senghore, explained the importance of mobility as part of their daily activities, saying people spend a significant portion of their day “moving around from places to take care of the myriad of activities required in everyday life”.
“Let us remember that people with mobility impairments are particularly vulnerable in societies like ours that do not normally cater for the adequate supply of assistive devices like wheelchairs, access to transportation and access to buildings,” she stated.
Without access to wheelchairs, she noted, the differently abled individuals will experience great limitations and may lose opportunities of going to schools, work and participating in social activities.
MD Senghore reiterated that her bank acknowledges the incredible role that the organisation is playing by promoting the welfare of people with disabilities across the country. She extended gratitude for the organisation’s efforts in providing encouragement and hope to parents who are dedicating their lives to raising children with disabilities.
“We understand that children are among the beneficiaries and the wheelchairs will be sent across the country,” she assured, saying: “We applaud you for that and we are excited about this because it resonates with our desire as a proudly Gambian Bank to positively touch the lives of people across the country.”
Mamat Gaye, founder of Fayda 1 FM Radio, expressed delight in receiving such an important gesture on behalf of differently abled individuals. He said there are many people across the country that are in need of wheelchairs to carry out their daily functions.
“That’s why we are reaching out to institutions we believe can support us to help our people. Wheelchairs shouldn’t be a barrier for us to contribute to the country’s economy. If we are supported with materials, we will be able to contribute a lot to the country’s development,” he said.
Lamin Manneh, secretary general of NODO, described the presentation as a “great achievement” for them, recalling that in 2022, he received a call and was informed that some differently-abled persons were sharing one wheelchair.
“This is why we started knocking at the doors of some institutions and thank God that Trust Bank is able to support us. This is great support for us and I am appealing to Gambians to emulate the Bank in extending humanitarian support to us,” Manneh said gleefully.
