Vendors at Mandinaba market, children and the community’s Police Station have recently benefited from a significant face mask donation from The Rural Child-a registered charitable organisation based in Mandinaba.
The donation is part of the organisation’s efforts in curtailing community transmission of the virus that is causing panic around the world, and Gambia not an exception.
As per indications from Gambian health authorities, the virus contraction is increasing in country with majority of the confirmed positive cases and fatalities occurring through community transmission.
“This is our part of contribution to ensure that community transmission of the virus is addressed by providing and encouraging the wearing of face masks,” Rural Child’s Health Officer, Mr. Mamudou Sumbundou, said of their gesture. He told the distribution ceremony that Mandinaba women vendors became their main concern due to their daily contacts with travellers who usually buy fruits and other food items from them.
Sumbundou reminded the women, police officers and children that coronavirus is real, and said they must ensure that they adhere to the recommended precautionary measures to control its spread, including regular wearing of face masks.
The organisation’s coordinator, Mr. Amadou Jallow said the virus has now changed the ways of life around the world, killing thousands on daily basis. He assured the beneficiaries that they [The Rural Child officials] will continue to play their part in the fight against the virus, calling for partnership and support to help rural community in the control of community transmission.
Jallow outlined their main focus areas as child empowerment and protection, women and youth empowerment, and human rights promotion and community development in rural Gambia, intimating that rural communities need support in understanding Covid-19 and how to protect themselves and others around them.
He also thanked the Bottrop Project for supporting them with the face masks.
The Organisation’s Secretary, Mr. Alhagie Jassey, observed that the women vendors need the support of all in this period as they have direct daily contact with food and people from different parts of the country and even beyond.
The Station Officer of Mandinaba Police commended the organisation for providing them with the face masks which “will empower” them to effectively carry out their daily functions under protection.
