Alhaji Professor Yahya Jammeh, president of the Republic of The Gambia, on Friday received Dr Imad, head of the medical team of the Gambia Football Association, in his office at State House in Banjul.

Dr Imad’s visit to State House was meant to present over 54 cartons containing medical items (metronidazole tabs, flamazil cream, amoxcillin caps, lignocaine cream, KY Jelly tubes, cefuroxine amp, cloxacilline caps and gentamycine ink), to President Jammeh on behalf of the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, President Jammeh, on behalf of the Gambian people, thanked the government and people of Egypt for the wonderful show of solidarity.

He described the relationship between The Gambia and Egypt as excellent and strong.“Apart from Cuba, Egypt was the second country to agree to send medical personnel to The Gambia during the transition period and immediately after the transition period.

Egypt was also the first African country and of course the first North African country to invite my government for consultation.  We will never forget that,” President Jammeh revealed.

He said Egypt has been very generous to The Gambia in all sectors of development, especially critical sectors.

“We are very grateful and we thank the government of Egypt.  We are very proud of our relationship with Egypt and of course the whole world knows how close we are to Egypt,” President Jammeh remarked.

“I pray to Almighty Allah to bless, guide and protect my brother, President Mubarack, his government and the people of Egypt,” Professor Jammeh concluded.

Presenting the items to President Jammeh, Dr Imad said the gesture from the Egyptian government will help to strengthen the already cordial relationship between The Gambia and Egypt.

He expressed delight at meeting President Jammeh and also commended him for his untiring efforts in strengthening the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

For his part, Dr Malick Njie, secretary of state for Health and Social Welfare, said the ceremony was a celebration of the cordial relationship between The Gambia and Egypt.

He thanked President Jammeh for putting health as his first priority and also for his achievements in the health sector.

Dr Omar Touray, secretary of state for Foreign Affairs, described the relationship between The Gambia and Egypt as excellent. Dr Touray revealed that the Egyptian government has provided technical assistance to the Gambia in many areas of development and thanked Egypt for the benevolent gesture.

Mrs Markieu Janneh-Kaira, acting chief pharmacist of the National Pharmaceutical Services at the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare chaired the ceremony.