The Rotary Club of Fajara in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Kettering, the UK, last Saturday put smiles on the faces of  people of Bansang when they presented an impressive and much needed consignment of medical equipment to Bansang hospital’s  paediatirc wing.

The donation, worth 47, 000-pounds sterling, equivalent to1.86 million dalasi, was made possible through a Rotary International Matching Grant.  

Speaking at the historic occasion, the President of Rotary Club of Fajara Mercy Crabbe-Ansah told a thrilled crowd that Rotary is a world wide association of business people and professionals who provide services to the community, promote high ethical standards and advances world understanding, goodwill and peace.

She said there are 1.2million Rotarians world wide, in 32, 474 clubs in 532 Rotary Districts.  She added that their three main focus areas are health, education and the provision of clean drinking water.

“The Rotary Club of Fajara has ongoing projects in all three areas. Today we are witnessing the conclusion of the second phase of a matching grant with the Rotary Club of Kettering in the UK for the provision of medical equipment such as beds, oxygen concentrators, autoclaves among others, to the paediatric wing of the Bansang Hospital,” she said.

She went on to shower praise on the Gambian leader  for  ‘the significant contributions he made to the Rotary Foundation, component of Rotary International responsible for Matching Grants for projects such as this one.’

She ended her inspiring speech by assuring the gathering that the Rotary Club of Fajara will continue to support the health sector, encourage education and provide clean drinking water, as Rotary strives to put humanity into motion.

In his speech at   the occasion, the British High Commissioner to The Gambia HE Philip Silkinson said he was he was more than delighted to witness the event.The British High Commissioner said: “I am especially delighted to be with Anita Smith, who as we all know is the inspiration and driving force behind all that has been achieved at Bansang Hospital. A warm welcome too, to Christine Norman and to Rotarian Bruce Lamford from Kettering. To Christine, who has come out to have a ‘look-see’  to gauge whether to add her skills to those of her friend and cousin- Anita; and to Bruce who has been so supportie of what Anita has been doing to raise the profile, raise funds and indeed to roll up his sleeves and fill containers destined for Bansang Hospital. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Rotarian Jim Wadda aka Jim’ll fix it! Jim has been a miracle worker here in The Gambia and without him the job Anita spearheaded would have been near impossible. A huge vote of thanks go the British company Mitie –
who have given so generously of their resources to assist in the modernisation of Bansang Hospital.”

The Governor of Central River Region, Ganjie Touray, who is the Chairman of Board of  Directors of Bansang Hospital thanked the donors for the timely and relevant gesture. He did not forget to thank Anita Smith for her inspirational role in transforming Bansang Hospital to an enviable Referral hospital .

According to Governor Touray Bansang Hospital serves not only CRR but also URR and even villages outside The Gambia. He said the donation could not have come at a better time adding that the situations at Paediatric ward of Bansang Hospital left much to be desired. “Two to three children used to share the same bed, this was unfortunate. So having someone coming to address this lamentable situation is no doubt a life saving venture,”

The visibly ebullient CRR Governor said that he has a son living in Kettering and would urge him to join the Rotary Club of Kettering knowing what the Club has done for Bansang.

The National Assembly Member for the Area Muhammed M. 5 Jallow hailed the gigantic step of the British people in lending a  hand of support to Bansang Hospital. “It is a positive step in the right direction knowing full well that health is premium.”

The Hon. Jallow noted that they are proud to associate with Britain because the latter once colonized the Gambia, hailing  the link  that happily exists between the two countries.

The Chief Executive Officer of Bansang Hospital, Baboucarr Jammeh also paid glowing tribute to the donors for the humanitarian gesture. He pointed out that Bansang Hospital is today blessed with an ultra-modern structure thanks to their friends, the Rotary clubs of Fajara and Kettering. He urged his staff to handle the donated medical equipment with care so that it might last a long time. CEO Jammeh then commended the Cuban doctors. He praised them further adding that the Cubans are dedicated and that they work round the clock. He then urged other donors to emulate the example of Rotary.

Jim Wadda, past president of Rotary Club of Fajara who chaired the occasion, asked the gathering to observe a  minute silence in memoration of one of their  Rotarian partners in Kittering Rotary Club  John Idyll who died last Tuesday.  Mr Wadda went on to inform the gathering that  the late John  Idyll has been very instrumental in the successful implementation of this  project. Mr Wadda also asked the gathering to stand up and take the loyal toast to the Chief Patron of Fajara Rotary Club, HE President Yahya Jammeh. 

Dr Sallah of Lamtoro Clinic, Muhammed Jagana of J-Fin Money Transfer alongside other high profile Rotary members also graced the occasion.