The donated items are said to cost over a half of million dalasis. The donor, according to health officials, is synonymous with donation of useful medical items to the Ministry of Health. The latest donation, they say, is among series since the formation of the foundation years ago.
At the handing over ceremony held at Central Medical Store, Mariama Jammeh, programme manager at the National Blood Bank, explained that this was the not the first time the donor is reaching out to the Ministry of Health by donating valuable materials. She underscored the importance of refrigerators in hospitals, saying they are essential equipment in the transmission of blood at the hospitals.
She described the donor as someone who is committed to minimising maternal mortality in the country.
She thanked Ms Jarju for her foresight and commitment towards the development of the country’s health care services.
She called on other philanthropists to emulate Ms Jarju to contribute to the development of the country.
Abdoulie Jarju, a relative to the donor, explained that the items are meant to save lives and complement government’s efforts in ensuring quality health care delivery.
He indicated that Join Hands 2 Save A Baby in conjunction with the MOH has been working on many initiatives meant to curb maternal deaths in the country.
“We believe that these items would be of great importance to the MOH. The foundation has spent a considerable amount of money in complementing government’s efforts in the health care delivery in The Gambia.”
Saikouba Jarju, National Assembly Member for Busumbala Constituency recalled that sometime in 2012/13, the donor visited a relative at the Brikama hospital.
He disclosed that what she saw upon arrival at the hospital was indeed appalling. This, Jarju further explained, motivated her to contribute to do something to improve conditions at the country’s health facilities.
He revealed that she presented other medical equipment, saying her donation took a shift to blood donation, after remarkable surge in the past months of maternal related deaths in the country.
Receiving the items, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister for Health hailed Ms Jarju and her Foundation for their foresight and remarkable efforts that she and her team are doing to better the country’s health sector.
“Blood fridges are lifesaving just like any other hospital equipment.”
Blood, he added, is an important part of the human and without adequate blood it will be difficult to support life.
Minister Samateh revealed that maternal mortality is a problem in many developing countries. But he was quick to state that the ratio of maternal mortality in the country is fast declining.
