By Mariam Williams
The Association of Social Workers In Gambia, in short TASWIG, had donated some medical and sanitary items to the country’s only Psychiatric Hospital called Tanka Tanka {formerly Campama, Banjul} situated in Kombo North of West Coast Region, and the Fajikunda Major Health Center in Kanifing Municipality. Among the items donated were medical gloves; dressing bandages; pieces of cotton wool; Madar Omo; wound compressors; bed protective sheets; surgical bowels; pieces of pads; and several pieces of pampas.
The Financial Secretary Mr. Pierre Jatta, explained to his audience that TASWIG is an umbrella body that oversees the well-being of all practicing social workers and social work students in the country. He stated it’s a “great joy and pleasure” for them to visit the two hospitals and give out some few gifts of medical and sanitary items, which the association believed would go a long way in complimenting government’s efforts, particularly in this difficult time.
Jatta maintained that they might be giving out a lot, but coming to Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital is very important because people in the said hospital are the most vulnerable people. As social workers, the TASWIG Financial Secretary said, they believe that this is the time they should be in the forefront to support the patients of Tanka Tanka Hospital, reasoning “because these are people that can’t support themselves; they really need us”. So, as social workers and Change Agency, Jatta said they believe that the donation is not much “but a little thing will always make a difference in the lives of the people they serve”. He singled out Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital as one of those primary agencies that social workers are needed.
He itemised the donated medical and sanitary materials to Tanka Tanka as including 1000 medical gloves, 300 dressing bandages, 400 pieces of cotton wool, 1 pack of Madar Omo, 1 pack of 12 Bleach, 1 pack of 12 washing liquid and pads 87 pieces; and also 1000 medical gloves, 160 wound compressor, 300 dressing bandage, 24 bed protective sheet, 18 meter roll of bandage, 10 surgical bowels, 1 pack of 12 Bleach, 1 pack of 12 madar soap, 108 pieces of pads and 98 pieces of pampas were also donated to Fajikunda Health Centre. He promised that they would continue to lend their support to Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital.
In his vote of thanks, Mr. Lamin Barrow hailed the gesture by TASWIG as a good one; stressing “he who feels it, knows it better. He averred that the people of Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital really appreciate these items donated to them by TASWIG.
While noting that the presence of the association was very important to the hospital, Barrow informed that the items would go a long way in helping them.
From Tanka Tanka, the donors proceeded to Fajikunda Health Centre for similar activity.
