By Mamadou Edrisa Njie
The rural settlements of Pallang Torro, Ngunta and Wassu in Niani District, Central River Region North, have called for urgent help in the face the infamous 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the world, from which the Gambia is not immune.
The residents of the three villages called on government, philanthropists and individuals to support them with hand sanitizers, detergents, and boreholes to have clean and safe water, so as to effectively prevent themselves from the deadly virus that has already affected all walks of life, around the globe.
It could be noted that, as per the disclosure by health authorities, The Gambia has so far recorded four positive cases, and one of the patients unfortunately, succumbed to the disease. Many people are currently under state supervised quarantine.
Speaking to Mansa Banko Online, Mrs. Kumba Saidy, a native of Pallang Torro village, bewailed that since the outbreak of the COVID-19, they didn’t receive any support from the government, organisations or philanthropists; hence, they are entirely taking the preventative measures by themselves, by buying detergents which don’t include hand sanitizers.
“For us here, we need more hand sanitizers and soaps because we are closer to the border with Senegal,” she reasoned.
Madam Saidy revealed that since the country registered three COVID-19 positive cases– one young lady in her 20s who arrived in the country from the United Kingdom; one 72-year-old from Numuyel village; a Gambian man from France in his 50s and a Bangladeshi, who passed away, as announced over TV and Radio stations, they are worried and intensifying COVID-19 preventive measures.
“Here, we put all our faith in Allah (S.W.T) because we don’t have the hand sanitizers that we are hearing about in the advertisements daily, over the TV and Radio stations. But we are only keeping our hands clean by using soaps and water,” she said of their situation.
Still on their ways of preventing themselves from the COVID-19, Saidy said they are using the 5L gallons filled with water, soap and tied to sticks. And they would pedal it to wash their hands, frequently.
She continued: “We’re, therefore, appealing for more hand sanitizers to protect ourselves, especially our children, from this deadly virus; and even rice and other food commodities”.
Mr. Modi Dem, 43, a farmer-cum-scholar in Ngunta village- a Gambian settlement situated at our border with Senegal, reported that they are using soaps and running water from their kettles to wash their hands regularly.
He said they are also observing social distancing. He used this interview to call on all and sundry to come to their aid, by providing them with hand sanitizers and soaps.
“If we can also get support for boreholes, it will greatly help us because in the village, we only have one well and the well is not covered,” he bemoaned.
Dem stressed: “Therefore, if clean and safe running water is one of the preventative measures for the COVID-19, then we are in dire need of support to get clean water.” He also observed that since the outbreak, businesses have been greatly affected; the Wassu Lumo-a weekly local market which is held every Monday- is suspended till further notice, by the government.
The closure of both the Senegalese and Gambian borders, had economically impacted on their lives, thus keeping them at homes, intimated Dem.
A rice farmer in Wassu, Mr. Musa Bah, is also feeling the pinch of COVID-19, saying it has affected their businesses. The rural farmer, therefore, appealed to the Barrow-dispensation, philanthropists and individuals to provide them with sanitation materials, as the world is battling with this novel common enemy called COVID-19.
For Bah, children are their ‘biggest’ concern, as he admitted that keeping their children in doors, all the time, is difficult.
