By Amadou Jadama
Spanish charity Stand up Africa, last Tuesday donated a supply of foods to the country’s only psychiatric hospital Tanka Tanka.
Five bags of 50kg rice, a 20 litre cooking oil, bag of onion and four packets of soap were some of the items donated.
The president of the foundation, Carios Dieter Goertz, said they are in the country on a fact finding mission on how to support mental health issues.
“Twenty seven thousand Gambians require mental health medical services. Our mission is to support Tanka Tanka, and this hospital needs lots of things. We will try and make it better,” he said.
Lamin Kabba, the CEO of Star GSM who serves as the charity’s counterpart, said:”I used to help people through my company, but I realised that alone is not enough. That is why I brought these people in order to complement the government’s efforts. Government cannot do it alone.”
He said their target is to build another Tanka Tanka Hospital in the country.
“We are now planning to meet with President Adama Barrow to explain our mission to him.
We have already sent our letter to him,” he said.
He called on young people to work to contribute their quota in national development, rather than being engaged in “petty talks and illegal activities”.
Receiving the items on behalf of the hospital, Foday Jawla said medical care is “an expensive enterprise” especially for a government with limited resources.
He commended the donors for the foresight and generosity, assuring that the material will be used for the intended purpose. He called on others to emulate Stand up Africa.
Kebba Sanneh, a spokesperson for the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital was among the speakers.
