Trust Bank Ltd donated items worth at least D100,000 and D50,000 to Farafenni General Hospital and Essau Major Health Centre respectively to complement government’s efforts in improving the quality of health care delivery in the North Bank Region.
The donations were presented in two separate events at the health facilities in Farafenni and Essau, on 23 November and attended by the Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Mrs Saffie Lowe Ceesay; the managing director of Trust Bank Ltd, Mr Ibrahima Salla; the director of Health Services, Mr Mamady Cham; the CEO of Farafenni General Hospital, Wandifa Samateh; the officer-in-charge of Essau Major Health Centre, Mr John Joseph Mendy; the regional health director, Mr Sutayring Drammeh, staff of the facilities and Trust Bank.
Key speakers at the events included Minister Lowe-Ceesay, Mr Salla, the OIC for Essau Health Centre and the CEO of Farafenni General Hospital.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mr Salla said Trust Bank believes in complementing government’s efforts in providing quality healthcare especially for the underprivileged in our society. “That explains why a greater part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility donations has been channelled towards the health sector.
“I believe that the choice of donating to Essau Major Health Centre and the maternity ward of the Farafenni General Hospital responsible for providing care for women during pregnancy and childbirth as well as for newborn infants was most appropriate. The presentation today will not only include medical supplies, but the love and generosity of the Trust Bank family to the people of North Bank Region. This is a continuation of the work that Trust Bank has been doing for the good of the people of North Bank Region.
“It is a continuation of a journey which started about 14 years ago with the strategic objective of ensuring that no mother should die while giving birth, that no child should die at birth from preventable causes and that quality health services will be accessible to all Gambians. Since then, records have shown that we have achieved a lot together as Gambians albeit all the challenges along the way and I am optimistic that soon, we shall achieve our ultimate objective.
Since adopting the maternity ward, Trust Bank has extended numerous supports that have impacted positively on the lives of the patients. Today, we all take pride in the fact that many mothers with complicated pregnancies will safely deliver their babies and that many medical emergencies will now be managed here at Farafenni Hospital. People will no longer need to travel all the way to Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) to get quality health services.”
“This event today coincides with the 20th anniversary of Trust Bank. By way of background, Trust Bank was incorporated in July 1997 to take over the business of Meridien Biao Bank and began operations in October the same year.
“In that light, we are immensely proud to celebrate our 20th anniversary with patients’ staffs and guardians here while we also acknowledge, through a donation, the role that Essau Major Health Centre and Farafenni General Hospital plays, in the lives of many Gambians across the North Bank Region. As the new managing director of Trust Bank, I look forward to continuing this relationship which have started years ago and will look forward to visiting the hospital once again” he concluded.
Minister Lowe-Ceesay expressed her profound appreciation to Trust Bank Ltd on behalf of her ministry and the people of North Bank Region.
“The donation will go towards supplementing the efforts of government to improve the standard of health care delivery in the communities of North Bank Region “, she said.
The minister lauded Trust Bank’s corporate social responsibility programme and staff, more so the institutions continued support to the government health facilities across the country.
She extolled the excellent and fruitful relationship between her ministry and Trust Bank Ltd and used the occasion to implore other stakeholders to emulate the Bank.