A handing over ceremony for 10 Global Fund Toyota Pick-ups to RHTS and their partners was recently held at the National Malaria Control Programme Office in Kanafing. The vehicles were distributed to all regions of the country.

In his opening remarks, the Programme Manager for the National Malaria Control Programme, Mr. Malang Fofana, said that this donation will support the health system. According to him, over 2,523 health workers were trained to improve their Malaria disease management and prevention skills from both public and private health facilities.

Speaking about national efforts, the programme manager pointed out that President Jammeh demonstrated the highest political commitment in the fight against malaria in The Gambia.

For his part, the Director of Operations for Health, Mr. Omar Jah, revealed that by providing such valuable support to the Health Sector, the Global Fund has once again demonstrated its commitment to the complete the development of the Department of State for Health (DOSH). It has a strong drive to maintain and uphold an effective and efficient Health Service. This noble objective was the premise of the relationship between DOSH and the RFH, which resulted in the outsourcing of the operation and maintenance of all the sector’s transport since 2002.

Mr. Jah expressed his pride in mentioning that the ambulances, the MCH trekking vehicles and the drug supply vehicles have been enjoying unprecedented attention. He said that RFH’s main strength is not only the maintenance of the vehicles and the equipment but it’s driving training also. He added that the RFH have endeavoured to include a sense of responsibility in all the vehicle drivers and managers because they are trying to make a group of vehicles that are free from accidents and breakdowns.

Other speakers during the programme included Mr. Bernard Mendy, CCM Chairman and the Permanent Secretary for DOSH, Mr. Sulayman Samba, did the handing over of the vehicles to the beneficiaries.