By Mariam Williams
A Norway-based charitable organisation called Action Gambia, recently donated various items to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), Albion, Methodist and Mohammedan Lower Basic Schools in the Gambian capital, Banjul.
The donated items are: Gloves, aprons, cover shoes, chairs and tables, photocopiers and printing machines, inter alia.
The co-founder of Action Gambia, Alhagie Momodou Jobarteh, in his remarks, recalled that previously, they donated the hospital with computers, printers, and chairs, and “today, we are here again donating the hospital with gloves, aprons and cover shoes. The hospital staff themselves told us that they are in need of such materials”.
On the Norway-based organisation, Jobarteh said they normally help schools and institutions in the Gambia, adding that, Action Gambia has been in existence for 10 years now.
“We know that government cannot do it alone, that’s why we, as citizens of the country, intervened to contribute our quota to national development,” he argued. He reasoned that The Gambia belongs “all of us; so if we don’t develop it, no can develop it for us”.
The Public Relations Officer of EFSTH, Mr. Kebba Sanneh saw the latest donation by Action Gambia as a continuation of its previous gestures.
PRO Sanneh thanked the organisation for their timely support and for donating the country’s main general hospital.
From EFSTH, the team proceeded to Albion and Mohammedan Lower Basic School for similar cause.
Ms. Elizabeth Chapman, Headteacher of Albion Lower Basic School, expressed delights in receiving such items from Action Gambia. As she acknowledged, that was not the first time the organisation had reached out to her school.
Chapman said, “We pray that this will not be the last time you people will be coming to Albion.” She indicated that the school looks forward to a long lasting partnership with Action Gambia.
Dr. Charles Robert, Deputy Chief Medical Director, and Madam Ya Fatou Mbye, Headteacher of Mohammedan School both made remarks during the handing over of the items.
Mbye recounted that Action Gambia has been assisting them for the past 7 years; that they [Action Gambia] are the ones who did the painting of the school, renovated its kitchen, and also gave them chairs and tables, photocopying and printing machines.
“Infact, they painted the entire school the first year they visited the school,” recalled Madam Mbye. She, therefore, saluted the organisation for the wonderful intervention in supporting children of Mohammedan Lower Basic school to access better education like others.
The Action Gambia officials were promised that the items they donated would be put into good use.
