By Mariam Williams
FaBB Foundation, a non-profit charity organization spearheaded by the Gambian First Lady, H.E. Madam Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, had once again, with support from other institutions, extended its annual largesse to the nation’s first babies of the New Year.
For a recollection, the erstwhile First Lady Madam Zineb Yahya Jammeh, through her then initiative “Operation Save The Children” Foundation (OSCF) had been giving gifts to the first-born babies of the year.
Following the collapse of her husband’s regime and the advent of the Barrow dispensation, the country’s successive First Lady Mrs. Bah-Barrow also created FaBB Foundation that supports disadvantaged communities, women, children and vulnerable groups in The Gambia.
It’s been said that the foundation is established for charitable purposes aimed to benefit areas in health, orphans, children, widows, youth and women through educational projects and social development programs.
Wednesday was a busy New Year’s day as the FaBB, with the support from Gamtel/Gamcel and Karpowership on New Year’s day, handed over the sum of 75, 000 dalasis, and some baby clothing to the parents of first six identified babies born in the dawn of 2020, from Banjul, Serrekunda and Bundung hospitals. The First Lady herself was on hand to catch a glimpse of the lucky babies at the aforementioned health establishment.
The first-born babies were awarded with a sum of D15,000 dalasis courtesy of Gamtel/Gamcel, while the second babies got D10,000 dalasis from Karpowership.
The Vice Chairperson of FaBB, Ms. Fatou Ceesay, speaking at the event recalled that they have been coming there {hospital} for the past years for similar occasion in supporting the first, second and third babies of the year.
She told the gathering FaBB was launched in 2017, and that the First Lady {Madam Bah-Barrow} came up with the initiative to support the health sector. Supporting the first-born Babies of the year is part of the Foundation’s good gestures, as the Vice Chair indicated.
Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister for Health and Social Welfare explained that the event takes place every beginning of a new year, to welcome the first and second babies of the year. Positing that the First Lady’s endeavour should be emulated in helping each other, Dr. Samateh added, “because no one can do it without us. The engine of development should come from us”. The Health Ministry boss applauded the nurses, while admitting that working in the health sector is very difficult and is a risk.
However, Dr. Samateh is positive that 2020 would be a game changer, as they have started mobilizing some resources with their partners to help the health sector.
Dr. Charles Robert, deputy Medical Director at EFSTH, said it’s always a joyous occasion when a new baby is born in EFSTH, “but most particular, in a day like this, which happens to be a start of a new year”.
The Chief Executive Officer of Serekunda General Hospital, Mr. Kebba Manneh, in his remarks thanked the donors for the great gestures and their continuous support to FaBB Foundation. He reported that the first baby-a girl-was born at 12:03 am at their Hospital, while the second baby,a boy, was born at 12:35 am.
The first baby’s mother is Madam Binta Jassey from Sukuta, and the second’s mother is Binta Bojang from Wellingara, in the West Coast Region of The Gambia, as per the CEO’s disclosure.
Speaking on the difficulties they are facing at the Serekunda General Hospital situated in Kanifing, CEO Manneh revealed that their first challenge is space. The hospital’s senior officer went on to inform his audience that they {at the hospital} are working very hard to expand the hospital, but support is needed.
The CEO added that they are hoping to have new equipment to be able to carry out easy delivery in their hospital.
“With the good gesture, I hope the beneficiaries will make the best use of the materials given to them,” Manneh remarked.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) stated that it’s become a tradition that every end of year, the First Lady of the country donates the first, second and third borns of the year, respectively.
Noted the PRO: “This year, the first born in EFSTH was born at the hours of 12.49 am and the baby mother’s name is Oumie Jallow; the baby is a female.
“The second male baby was born at 01:45 by Haddy Mendy. We are happy that our own staff in the hospital happened to be a winner of this wonderful gift.”
Similar event was witnessed at the Bundung Maternal and Child Health Hospital where the first baby made an entrance into the world on New Year, and was welcomed at 01:46 am; her mother is Ananias E. Mendy from Basse in Upper River Region (URR).
Madam Saho Ceesay from Bundung in the Kanifing Municipality (KM), gave birth to the second baby boy at 01:55 am, as reported by the hospital officials.
