By Yero S. Bah
A tripartite donation of various types of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was, on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, made to the Ministry of Health in the capital, Banjul.
The items, including 500 protective suits and shoe covers, 10,000 facemasks and 100 face-shields, were donated by the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU).
In handing over the equipment to the Ministry at it premises, the EU Ambassador H.E. Attila Lajos said, that was just the first lot as it’s part of a larger contribution of 45,000 masks and 2,000 suits that are being produced under the EU-funded projects, including the Youth Empowerment Project which is [being] implemented by the International Trade Center (ITC) and the EU-IOM joint-initiative for migrant protection and reintegration.
The diplomat explained that the donation is extended to the Gambia Gambia but the protective shoe covers are primarily intended for frontline immigration workers and border officials, whilst the face masks are for medical staff.
The EU top-diplomat to Banjul informed his audience that, all the PPE are locally designed and made in the Gambia by Gambian youths.
Ambassador Lajos went on state that coronavirus has not only created a health pandemic but also socioeconomic crisis as it hit harder the tourism sector and small businesses, especially craft sectors and tailors.
In the tourism sector alone, he lamented, billions of dalasis had been lost due to the virus; noting the production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) provides alternative sources of income for these businesses. That, as part of their reintegration program, 20 migrant returnees from Libya and Niger are producing this equipment in the Gambia.
In receiving the items, the country’s Minister for Trade, Regional Integration and Employment, Mr. Lamin Jobe, welcomed the donation, stating his ministry is responsible of job creations for Gambian youths. Jobe added that he was encouraged by the fact that, all the Personal Protective Equipment were locally-designed and produced in Gambia and by Gambians.
The Minister hailed the cordial working relations between the government of the Gambia and the implementing partners, averring that such support will arm the health ministry in effectively combating the coronavirus in the country. He believed also that the initiative would create job opportunities for youths, whilst describing the move as “killing two birds with one stone”. He promised his Ministry’s further collaboration with YEP, IOM, ITC and EU in the future.
For his part, the Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh thanked the donors for the gesture, and used the opportunity to call on Gambians to respect the safety measures and protocols advised by health officials.
Coronavirus is real and in the Gambia, the Health Ministry head cautioned Gambians, intimating that his Ministry is grateful for these kind gestures by the donors, as coronavirus has been a big challenge, affecting families and economies around world.
Dr. Samateh said the Ministry of Health has put up several strategies in combating the virus, recalling that work started earlier at the ministry well before the first confirmed case in the country. “For partners, we work; we analyze, strategize and evaluate things together,” said Minister Samateh.
According to him, their work and strategies had been recognized by international bodies; their protocols are working favourably as they have “better quarantine, contact tracing and treatment strategies”. He explained that, 70% of the cases registered were already under their surveillance under quarantine. He was quick to point out, however that, this is not a time for complacency. While enjoining people to observe frequent handwashing and social distancing as well as wearing of face masks, the Health Ministry boss vouched that, “masks certainly help.”
The donated facemasks, face-shields, waterproof gowns and shoe covers products were all made locally and by Gambian companies such as Make3D and Tiga Gambia, and were medically certified by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Gambia Standard.
