By Mariam Williams
The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children, popularly known as GAMCOTRAP, in collaboration with SCI-Sida CSO project, had launched a nation-wide distribution of 10,000 face masks for children across the Gambia, in support of Gambia Government’s effort to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
Speaking at the launch ceremony held at the office of the mayor of KMC, Ms. Bintou H.K. Fatty, Director at Department of Children Affairs, catalogued that as the virus continues to spread across the world, “we are all facing multiple stress including physical, psychosocial health risk, low income” as a result of business closure, family confinement, isolation and economic vulnerability, inter alia. With all these challenges, she noted that. children continue to bear the brunt, with schools being closed for quite a while now.
Director Fatty, who represented the Minister of Women Affairs, Children and Social Welfare, further remarked that as a Ministry responsible for children welfare, they wish to welcome the great initiatives like this, intended to protect the rights of children and promote their wellbeing in the quest to fight the pandemic.
“This initiative targeting to safe children from the impact of coronavirus is not only an agenda for action but a smart investment. For without urgent action, this health crisis will become a child right crisis, causing disruption to society, with heavy impact on children’s safely and learning,” Ms. Fatty told her audience.
She commented that, the effort of CSOs in complementing the efforts of government by providing 10,000 face masks across the country, would go a long way to save the children from acquiring the coronavirus.
She promised that they would endeavour to collaborate with GAMCOTRAP, Save the Children, Sida CSO Project and the other children-driven institutions to better the lives of the Gambian children.
She also said this initiative of the ministry is in line with both national and international conventions geared protecting the rights of the child and creating a safe space for their survival and development.
KMC’s Deputy Mayor Mr. Ousman Bah, in his remarks talked about how the pandemic has hit the world, and has not left any stone unturned- meaning it doesn’t distinguish young and baby.
Bah believed the GAMCOTRAP initiative would support their 50,000 face masks initiative that Mayor Bensouda launched for the community of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC).
Princess A. Munahot, Executive Director of GAMCOTRAP, noted that the organisation is a household name in the country, protecting the rights of women and children in the Gambia. She added that it has been existing for 45 years now, and has been spearheading the abandonment of harmful practices, women and children empowerment, women and children education, preservation of women and children’s rights ranging from physical, psychological, sexual and reproductive health rights, to all the legal and fundamental rights that protect the vulnerable in the society.
Director Munahot reminded that usually when pandemic and other crisis occur, the most vulnerable are affected, and there is a tendency that children are overlooked.
Hence, she pointed out that the distribution of these face masks to 10,000 Gambian children, is surely for their protection.
She highlighted that they are “reversible masks” which means one could wear both sides, and it is hundred percent cotton too. She informed the gathering that the masks would be distributed to the seven Regions in the Gambia.
Naiah Ayeni, the Youth Ambassador of GAMCOTRAP, explained that children are the most vulnerable in society, adding coronavirus has taken the lives of many people. She used the occasion to demonstrates how to wear and remove the face masks.
Mr. Ousman Touray expressed delights over the gesture and thanked GAMCOTRAP and partners for providing at least 10,000 face masks. Reminding how children hug each other, Touray is however, encouraged that the face masks would be a form of protection.
