The Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS) recently awarded President Jammeh, on the occasion marking the commemoration of the World Red Cross Day, held at the Arch 22 in Banjul.

The award was in recognition of Jammeh’s services to humanity, ranging from his treatment of the sick to awesome assistance to the sick and the needy. The society also awarded Dr Saihou Sabally, a former president of GRCS.

Speaking on behalf of the GRCS president, Mamud Bah, the vice president GRCS, said the day is observed each year to raise the concerns of Red Cross and Red Crescent and remember the founder of the movement, Henry Dunant, and all those who lost their lives in the services to humanity.

Mr Bah told the volunteers that the day also presents an opportunity to reflect on their strength and weaknesses, as well as challenges for more improvement. “The GRCS is the only voluntary organisation in the country with over 1,500 registered members, covering every community in the country,” he said.

 He assured the gathering of the society’s resolve to partner with the government, communities and other stakeholders to deal with the needs of people.

“The national society is now giving community based voluntarism as a priority so as to maintain the presence of the Red Cross in the communities and sustain our programmes there”, he said.

For her part Mrs Ndey Sirens Bakurin, the secretary general of GRCS, said it would be difficult for GRCS to achieve its goals in the face of limited resources, and she called for more support.

“The dynamism of our volunteers and the commitment of our members are the key to our successes,” she emphasised.

The GRCS volunteers and school children marched from July 22 Square to Arch 22, led by the Army Band. The occasion also witnessed drama performance, First Aid demonstrations by a number of the volunteers, inter-link quiz competitions and awarding of certificates, as well as blood donations.