The UNFPA Country Office in the Gambia on Thursday January 30, 2014 donated materials and equipment including 20 motorcycles to the Government of the Gambia and other partners. The motorcycles, medical equipment and hospital furniture worth over GMD6,000.000.00 were handed over in a ceremony held at the Serekunda Hospital in Kanifing.
Speaking during the occasion the Minister of Youth and Sports Hon. Alieu K. Jammeh, highlighted that this was second time in a matter of moths that UNFPA was extending its magnanimity to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. He said that the motorcycles donated came at a time that the Ministry is working towards building the capacity of its regional youth structures and he assured UNFPA that the items will be properly utilised for the purpose they are meant for.
In his statement, the Honourable Minister for Health and Social Welfare Omar Sey expressed joy at the gesture which demonstrates UNFPA’s commitment in complementing the Government’s efforts. He highlighted the fact that Government cannot do it alone and appealed to development partners to support the Government’s efforts of ensuring quality healthcare for all.
Minister Sey made reference to the Government’s initiative of deploying twenty-five Gambian Doctors to all the major strategic health facilities across the country which will go a long way in enhancing maternal health especially in resource-constraint regions.
In delivering the keynote statement, Ms Ade Mamonyane Lekoetje, UNFPA Resident Representative, described the gathering as very symbolic and a manifestation of UNFPA’s continued commitment to delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
She said the handing over of 20 motorcycles and medical equipment was to support the delivery of quality services to our most important constituencies - woman and youth. Madam Lekoetje highlighted that UNFPA will continue to support the efforts of the Government of The Gambia in meeting its development goals and aspirations as outlined in Vision 2020, the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE) 2012-2015 and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2012-2016.
She concluded by calling on the custodians of the materials to take great care of them and use them diligently to deliver quality services to our communities and people.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Mr. Yankuba Dibba, Executive Director of Gambia Family Planning and the programme was chaired by Mr. Saikou Trawally, Director of National Population Commission Secretariat.
The materials included 20 motorcycles, 7 apiece were handed over to the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare and Youth and Sports and 3 apiece to the Gambia Family Planning Association and Women’s Bureau. Other items included 100 hospital benches, 50 tables and 50 chairs and 20 examination couches and medical equipment including 1 Anaesthesia machine, 10 Doppler heart rate detectors- pocket size, 15 portable Hemoglobinometers with printers, 5 automatic newborn incubators with accessories, 10 foot-operated nebulizers, 5 Oxygen concentrator sets, 5 portable electric suction pumps with accessories, 10 foot-operated suction pumps and 1 portable digital ultrasound scanner with printer.
