The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) alongside UNICEF has presented lifesaving medical supplies to the Gambian Health Ministry.
It was explained that the supplies were to strengthen the country’s active response campaign in containing the further spread of the global pandemic (Covid-19) virus.
Items donated are oxygen concentrators, tablets, laptops as well as washing supplies against infection, prevention, and control of chlorine among a host of other detergents.
UNICEF representative in the Gambia, Gordon Jonathan Lewis extended a warm appreciation particularly to the staff of the Ministry’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), for their efforts in taking forward the national vaccination campaign against coronavirus as well as staff of the National Pharmaceutical Services.
He said; “The country has recorded tremendous progress in fighting covid-19 despite significant challenges in the country and other competing priorities. We had an intensive public awareness campaign led by communities, who are driving vaccination across the country, with encouraging results.
“Since the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic in the country in 2020, UNICEF has been working side-by-side with the Ministry in providing critical support and numerous services of strategic importance to counter the further spread of the virus and its impact on societies.
“Through our vast experience in global vaccine procurement and delivery, we have been able to deliver more than six-hundred and forty-eight thousand doses of WHO-approved vaccines to the country through the Covax platform. Additionally, we have also provided one million syringes since the start of the pandemic.
“These efforts have been strengthened with the procurement of an ultra-modern cultural facility equipped with six freezers to help the country store any type of vaccines as well as numerous biological products.”
United States ambassador to The Gambia, Sharon L. Cromer also acknowledged the strong partnership between USAID, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health in their continued fight against the global pandemic.
She said; “The United States makes this donation including equipment and supplies to prevent and treat Covid-19 and to ensure the continued health and wellbeing of the Gambian people. This is a serious time and no global crisis in our lifetime has matched covid-19 in scope and complexity. We are facing overlapping health, humanitarian and economic crises, each global and historic in scope.”
Source: The Point
