The presentation, held at the Paediatric Department of the hospital, was graced by senior hospital management and staff of the burn unit, members of the Sira Burn Foundation among others.
The donated items included 24 pieces of Silver Sulfadiazine, 24 bottles of Brufen Syrup, 24 pieces of Neomycin Cream, 40 bottles of Ampiclox Syrup, 40 bottles of Vitamin C Syrup, 40 bottles of Pem IV, 20 bottles of Pem Syrup, 10 pieces of Clotol, eight pieces of Povidone, 12 pieces of Leto Soap, 30 pieces of gauze, 48 pieces of bandages, two bottles of bleach soap, and six bed sheets, among other medical supplies.
At the event, Mbakoto Yaminde Cole, Officer-In-Charge of the Paediatric Department, expressed gratitude to the foundation for remembering the hospital’s young patients and returning with another donation.
The foundation, she added, had made a similar contribution two years earlier.
“We are actually grateful. Thank you Sira and your foundation for thinking about us and our children,” Cole said.
Sira Kabba, the 9-year old founder of the foundation, recounted her personal experience with burn injuries after sustaining burns at the age of two.
She explained that her painful journey and multiple surgeries inspired her to establish the foundation and help other burn victims.
Sira outlined the importance of early physiotherapy for burn patients and urged parents and guardians to always keep children away from dangerous items such as firewood, gas, and incense burners.
“Let’s all prevent burns. If we prevent it, it will never happen.” Sira said, further expressing hope to see a future where no child or adult suffers from preventable burn injuries in The Gambia.
Deputy Chief Medical Director of EFSTH, Cherno S. Jallow, and Head of the Paediatric Surgery Unit, lauded the donor for her support as burn treatment is resource-intensive.
He revealed that the hospital often treats between 10 and 15 Paediatric burn patients at a time, many of whom suffer injuries that could have been prevented.
“These materials are very important for our burn unit, and they will go a long way in supporting the care we provide to our patients,” Jallow said.
Right activists, Madi Jobarteh for his part commended Sira and her family for their generosity, describing the young founder as an inspiration to Gambians.
He said despite enduring a painful burn experience, Sira had transformed her suffering into a mission to support burn victims, particularly children.
He thus urged individuals, institutions, and organisations to support the Sira Bone Foundation in expanding its services and promoting burn prevention across the country.
