Maternal blood bank project launched

Founded in 2013 by a UK-based Gambian Amie Jarjue, Join Hands 2 Save a Baby seeks to provide blood across the country in an attempt to augment the country’s hospitals and health professionals in their efforts to curb maternal deaths.

Fatoumatta Bah Barrow, the first lady of The Gambia, reminded that it is a collective responsibility of all to help in reducing and addressing the issue of maternal deaths, by working together as members of this community.

“We are out to support each other to end the maternal deaths in the country.”

She called on women to consistently work together to improve their delivery and motherhood experience. 

Rohey Malick Lowe, Mayoress of Banjul said fighting maternal mortality is achievable in The Gambia.

 “In order to achieve a sustainable health care system in The Gambia, we need to come together and work as a team. I will do as much as possible to stand by Amie’s side to see the success of the Gambia Maternal Blood Bank Project as we are in this cause together.” she said.

She went on to encourage Banjulians to donate blood as it will ease the continuous struggle for blood donation in The Gambia.

Safie Abia, deputy programme manager at the National Blood Transfusion Service, said this is a project that can help save mothers, daughters, wives and children. “Today is a hope that can change the lives of Gambian women and children forever. The launching of the project would bring a change in the narrative of the National Blood Transfusion Service and will save a lot of lives.”

She challenged all to make a responsibility to save pregnant mothers, children and wives and also encourage the youths to come forward to donate blood.

One Abdoulie Jarjue, indicated that the project also meant to raise awareness for people to know that individuals can save lives through blood donation.

The foundation, he went on, seeks to provide a safe conducive environment for the health professionals to be supported and be able to do their work. 

“Beneficiaries of this project will be pregnant women, new mothers and babies,” he said. 

The project, he added, will be spread across the country, and thus calls on all to join hands to put an end to maternal mortality in the country.

She was motivated to form this foundation after hearing information on how women suffer in giving birth in the country and the conditions of the facilities they are admitted into.