By Mariam Williams
Martinaโs Charity Foundation has donated medical items to the Health sector, and other materials to the needy families in the society, worth more than one million dalasi, at a ceremony held in Tallinding.
The Charity Foundation aimed at helping the health departments in the country, support agriculture sector and needy families in the country.
Ms.Mariama Baldeh, a Nurse and one of the founders of the Foundation said the foundation was registered in July last year, and they have a Gambian partner Jerreh Sanno in Spain; and two other Spanish nationals. She recalled that they normally bring materials in the Gambia to help the needy even before the registration of the foundation.
โAs a Gambian, I believe everyone should do their quota to contribute towards the development of the nation; and our Foundation is here to contribute in the development of the country and to support the needy in the society,” Baldeh stated.
As a nurse seeing the health system in the country, she stressed the need for everyone to come together and support the sector, especially in the rural areas, where Ms. Baldeh noted, “so many people are suffering and a lot needs to be done because if you go to the health departments they lacked almost all the facilities in their health sectors”.
The Martinaโs Charity founding member went further to inform that they are collaborating with the Ministry of Health so that they could help them to facilitate where the donated materials would be put in.
She said at the moment they are targeting Brikama Health Centre, Kiang Karantaba Health Centre and Jahaly Health Centre in Central River Region (CRR).
โIn Gambia, everyone needs help especially when it comes to health. So, we don’t want to concentrate on one area because it’s for all Gambians, and the Foundation is not only based on health but other areas like digging boreholes, Agriculture etc.โ, she explained.
Ms. Baldeh made it clear that the donation has nothing to do with Covid-19 because even before the pandemic started, they had two containers distributed, according to him. And, that they did so many distributions, including in the rural areas. She disclosed that the foundation is also looking forward to building a permanent health centre for the Gambians where no citizen would be referred for overseas treatment.
She expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health for their support towards their Foundation and her teammates including Kebba Camara and others for their continuous support.
