The Ministry of Agriculture received aid from the Republic of China earlier this month and the distribution process has been ongoing in CRR and LRR.
The first consignment of 52 containers bearing 1380 metric tons of rice was received. An amount 1260 metric tons equivalent to 50 containers is expected to arrive by the end of the month.
As part of the distribution plan on Wednesday 17th July, 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture handed over 100 bags of rice to the Minister of Health Saffie Lowe-Ceesay.
The handing over ceremony was presided over by Deputy Permanent Secretary of Agriculture Mr. Hassan Jallow on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture. The Deputy Permanent Secretary said this donation is the ministry’s contribution to the Social Welfare and Health Sector.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Mr. Dawda Ceesay said this gesture is very timely because the Health Ministry is at a across road and it’s running out of supplies. “The ministry is not only responsible for providing mental health care for patients at Tanka Tanka Psychiatric clinic but also their sustenance. Mental Health condition is on the increase because of substance abuse and also peer and social pressure.”
The Minister of Health in her statement thanked the Agricultural Minister and the Ministry for this kind gesture and hoped that this contribution will remain to assist the health sector through sustainability.
