The gesture forms part of the charity’s unrelenting efforts in supporting communities and individuals in the country, especially in areas of education, health, livelihood, food security, water, sanitation and hygiene and emergencies.
Welcoming the gathering, Lamin Sanyang, Officer-In-Charge, Brikama District Hospital, lauded the charity for their efforts in changing the lives of people especially those with eye related problems.
OIC Sanyang recalled that Brikama District Hospital Eye Care Unit was established in 1994 and since then, the Eye Unit remains the second leading cataract surgery unit in the country, second to only Sheikh Zayed Regional Eye Care Centre.
He thanked the skeletal staff of the hospital for their foresight and hard work, acknowledging that the hospital is one of the busiest hospitals in the country in terms of services offered.
The hospital’s cataract team, he added, also conducts community eye screening as well as school screening to help students, who have problems with their eyesight.
To that end, he called on all to support the government's efforts as the latter cannot do it alone, thus the need for more collaboration and partnership to help it deliver quality health to Gambians.
For his part, Ousman Jammeh, country director of Muslims Hands-The Gambia, revealed that the gesture came on the backdrop of a similar undertaking in which the charity supported more than two hundred cataract patients to undergo free cataract surgeries in various regions.
The organisation, he went on, also supports construction and rehabilitation of mosques. “Most of our interventions have been traditionally concentrated in the West Coast Region, where we reach out to communities far and near, ensuring that we are able to contribute our part to national development.”
The cataract surgery, he added, is just one out of a series of Muslims Hands’ intervention towards ensuring good health standards in The Gambia.
He also revealed that with funding from their international partners such as Muslims Hands South Africa, 200 patients in Banjul, Serrekunda, Brikama and its surroundings who have already been screened will be offered free cataract surgeries.
Sarane Hydara, Muslims Hands Board of Trustees, lauded the charity for working tirelessly to get this activity ongoing in the country.
He thus congratulated the country team for their efforts and dedication, further expressing appreciation for their efforts and time in strengthening the collaboration with the Ministry.
Hydara recalled that the charity has been working in The Gambia since 1994, saying today Muslims Hands operates in nearly 50 countries globally.
“The charity has funding offices in France, South Africa, Canada and the United States.”
He also revealed that the charity generates its funding which is used to support Muslims across the country.
Sarjo Kanyi, programme manager, National Eye Health Programme at the Ministry, revealed that the programme, which he oversees, was established some four decades back and that since its inception, the programme has been focused on three main areas.
“To ensure that we develop service delivery points across the country, services are delivered at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Also, one of the areas that the programme has been focused on is capacity building and to ensure that people are trained to work in these facilities.”
He further added: “We also ensure that infrastructures are provided in all the eight secondary eye units across, as well as to ensure eye health services are easily accessible and affordable to all.”
He acknowledged that cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the country, saying statistics have shown that the number of eye cataract surgeries recorded at Brikama District Hospital is second only to Sheikh Zayed Regional Eye Care Centre.
Other speakers included beneficiaries Sheriff Bah and Janke Jammeh, who thanked the donors for their laudable efforts.
