#National News

Support Our Own presents D200,000 to Gambia Red Cross

Sep 14, 2020, 12:02 PM | Article By: Cherno Omar Bobb

Support Our Own, a group of professionals from Marina International School Alumni, based both in the Gambia and abroad last Friday presented a cheque of two hundred thousand dalasis (D200,000) to The Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS) to support their covid-19 fight efforts.

The aim of the group is to meet some of the needs of those identified, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable and marginalized populations both in urban and rural areas as much as possible in The Gambia. 

The objective of the group is to support front line health workers with essential supplies/services to ensure continuity in meeting the needs of the Gambian community; provide complementary support to public hospitals with medication, affordable equipment to meet the gaps identified by health professionals; to support the community with face masks, hand sanitizers, soap, food essentials, as well as to increase public awareness campaigns on Covid-19 within communities.

Speaking at the presentation held at GRCS Headquarters, Ya Louise Ndure-Bensouda, a committee member of Support Our Ownsaid they established the links with key service providers to find out their immediate needs and where gaps exist to support them. 

She observed that in recent weeks there has been an acute rise in COVID-19 infection cases in The Gambia which is causing enormous strain on the health service delivery and personnel.  

She thanked their donor community while highlighting their achievements. He also thanked The Gambia Red Cross Society for services they have been offering to society.

Alasan Senghore, Secretary General The Gambia Red Cross Society thanked the group for supporting key Gambian institutions in the fight against covid-19.

Mr Senghore highlighted that covid-19 cannot be defeated by government alone or one group or the other but by coming together, noting that covid-19 is a global pandemicthat has affected every country and is different from other pandemics and disasters.

He described their volunteers across the country as committed and dedicated not only to humanity but also in delivering services based on the principles of Red Cross and therefore thanked them for their services which are critical at this time.

SG Senghore assured Support Our Own that the resources will be used for their intended purpose. While encouraging the group to keep up the good work, he also expressed their willingness to continue working with them.