The Paradise Foundation has recently donated medical items worth D1.2 million to the government ministries and other non-governmental health institutions in the country meant to contain COVID-19 but also to address health complications of other patients.
The Ministries of health, women’s affairs, children and social welfare, The Gambia Red Cross Society and Marly Foundation have all benefited from the gesture. The handing over of the items was done at the Paradise Suites hotel last week.
The donated items include manual wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, canes, crutches, walking sticks, walking frames, surgical dressing packs, urinary catheters and bags, nasal vent mask, colostomy pouches, oxygen nasal mask and prons, lubricating gel, alcohol swabs, adhesive tapes, oxygen cylinders, cervical collars, respiratory items, lab supplies, oxygen tanks, respiratory masks, procedure chairs, examining table, feeding tubes, orthopedic boots, walkers, and inflatable stretchers amongst other things.
“We are doing this out of a sense of obligation and duty and in a way, we feel it is fitting that this is happening during the blessed month of Ramadan. All of us have an interest in both the health and wealth of our nation,” Aisha Baldeh, director of Paradise Foundation said at the ceremony. She said they’ve conducted a prior research and assessment before the consignment was released.
“…everything in there is very much needed. We will ensure the equipment gets to its intended targets and we hope to establish long-running relationships with the recipient establishments,” she assured.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the government, the Minister of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Fatou Kinteh applauded the gesture. She said the items will help the elderly, physically challenged and the bedridden patients.
“You’ll agree with me that, in our population today, we have a large number of the elderly, and due to accidents and treatments, we also have a large number of people who are physically disabled. If you go to our hospitals today, you will find out that most patients are bed ridden,” she said.
She said while the government is committed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, assistants from donors, private sector and the philanthropists will help the process.
