The items donated include: dustbins and wheelbarrows and other assorted sanitary materials and were donated to NEA by Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs), an organisation responsible for the protection of toxic, man-made, hazardous chemicals that have dangerous effects on the environment and on people’s health.
UPOPs through their project the Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs), has been supporting The Gambia with necessary technical and financial assistance to reduce the risk posed by PCBs and UPOPs to environment and human health.
At the event, Muhammed Jallon Jabang, Coordinator PCBs and UPOPs project, expressed delight for the project to contribute to national development.
“If you look at the Gambia, over 80% of our health issues are related to poor environmental sanitation. So, once we get our environment clean, we have a better and healthier Gambia. Therefore, the project is trying to make sure that we properly manage our waste so as not that burn them. So today, we are giving out dustbins and wheelbarrows and other assorted sanitary materials and we hope communities or beneficiaries will put them into good use.”
He reminded that ensuring environmental cleanliness is a collective responsibility and called on all to make sure ‘our environment is clean and healthy.’
For his part, Dr. Dawda Badjie, Executive Director of NEA, reminded that environmental cleanliness is not only the responsibility of the agency, but rather it is a national duty and obligation for every citizen of this country.
“The majority of these materials were transferred to the Joint Operational Command (JOC), the central body overseeing security forces in The Gambia. As a result, police officers, immigration officials, soldiers, and other security personnel can now directly access supplies for cleansing activities through JOC, eliminating the need to approach the NEA for such resources.
Despite this, Badjie maintained that the agency still holds a portion of materials, which were officially handed over to deserving community organisations.
“The NEA emphasized its role as a coordinator rather than the primary body responsible for environmental cleaning, highlighting that other stakeholders play a critical part in maintaining the country’s cleanliness.”
On receiving the items, beneficiaries heaped praises on the agency for the foresight that they believe would go a long in ensuring cleanliness in their respective communities.
The beneficiaries include SerreKunda Central Red Cross Link, MDI Students’ Union, Brikama Senior Secondary School and the University of The Gambia, among others.
