By Olimatou Coker
Project Aid International in partnership with the German embassy in the Gambia on Thursday handed over medical items worth over 11 million dalasis to the Ministry of Health (MoH) at a presentation held at Manjai Kunda.
The donated items included 34 ventilators with additional medical accessories and 18 hospital beds.
According to officials, the 34 ventilators are donations gathered by Project Aid the Gambia from two medical supplier companies in Germany. The 18 hospital beds are a donation from the university clinic Essen Germany, that I’m 2019 and 2020 had already supported the health service of the Gambia through a donation of 39 second hand hospital beds and other medical equipment on the initiative of Mr. Thorsten Kaatze, the Commercial Director of the Clinic.
Janine Hoelscher, Political Attaché at the German Embassy Officer in The Gambia, said the German embassy gladly supports this very timely project as one of their micro projects. “The ventilators and the equipment are much needed amidst the rise of Covid-19 cases in the Gambia. Project Aid the Gambia has been a trusted partner in the Gambia for many years”.
Madam Hoelscher explained that with the micro project scheme, the German embassy supports NGO initiatives that aim at improving basic needs of the poor and most vulnerable groups of the population.
“We are aware of social responsibility and as a family business we gladly donate life support devices to Project Aid the Gambia. Ventilation is one of our core competencies and we hope to make a contribution to improve the situation.”
Heiko Hannemann, Managing Director of Boergel Company Germany, said they are very upset about the current development of the corona pandemic.
“We hope to be able to make a good contribution to coping with the use of the ventilators we have provided,” he said.
Musa Saine, Senior Logistics Officer MoH, thanked the German embassy and Project Aid In’t for their timely intervention much especially when the country is going through a trying time.
