Project Aid The Gambia, an International NGO based in Manjai Kunda and Banjul Kairo Lions Club recently donated medical items worth D250, 000 to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The presentation took place at the Central medical store under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Bertil Harding highway in Kotu.

The occasion was graced by, Adama Dampha President of Leos youth Club, an affiliated youth club to Lions Club and Ebrahima Jobarteh (project manager, Project Aid, The Gambia.

Handing over the items, the chairman Project Aid, The Gambia who doubles as the Goodwill Ambassador-At Large, Matthias Ketteler said the medical items were offered to Project Aid, The Gambia by a local pharmacy in Germany.

“This is the first time we are rendering our support to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and we will continue to do more because we want to support the new dispensation under President Barrow in their drive to push the country forward,” Ketteler promised.

According to Mr.Ketteler, Project Aid, The Gambia is having closer partnership with the Lions Club Banjul Kairo adding that this was why they were able to make this wonderful presentation.

He urged the Health Ministry officials to make good use of the items in order for the items to serve their purpose thus hoping that if the items are properly taken care of, it will be of good to the country.

Over the years, project Aid has carried out successful projects in the Health, Agriculture and Education sectors. Since its inauguration in 1981 Project Aid’s Jahally Pacharr health centre has provided efficient and effective modern health care to over 400,000 patients. In 2009 it also carried out an extensive renovation of the health centre in Njaba Kunda turning it into a model health facility.

It has also through massive campaign in Germany contributed to a high standard of early childhood education in Jahally with the construction and operational cost of a kindergarten school serving the communities of Jahally and Madina. In the area of Agriculture and Women empowerment Project Aid is presently operating four fertile garden farms with the women of Jahjally and Madina. Over 1000 local women have been allocated garden plots to grow cash crop items as well as subsistence for their families.

This recent presentation to the Ministry of health comes at an opportune time when the Ministry is faced with maximising its efforts in securing adequate and quality drugs. In receiving the items, the Director, National Pharmaceutical Service, Ministry of Health, Babanding Sabally described the donation as laudable and that it will be beneficial to his ministry.

Sabally assured the donors that the items will be properly utilized. He used the opportunity to call on others to emulate Project Aid and Lions Club for their kind gesture.

“We count on your full support because these items you just donate to us will go a long way in solving drug problems within the Health Ministry,” Sabally assured donors.

The Local Chairman of Project Aid, Mr.Abdoulie Charles M´bye said Government alone cannot do it all, this was why their NGO is contributing quota to the health sector by donating medicaments to the Health Ministry.

The donation, according to Mr. Charles, was meant to ease drug problems in the government’s health facilities through-out the country while calling on the health personnel to take good care of the donated items.

The President of Lions Club of Banjul Kairo, Luc A. Verschelden said Project Aid and Lions Club are all about serving humanity thus promising that they would continue to give a helping hand to the Government.

By: Lamin B. Darboe