Gambian-manufactured boat ambulance a donation to Essau health centre

A boat for river ambulance service, manufactured by Fibre Glass Company based in Brikama, in the Western Division was presented to the vice president, Mrs Isatou Njie-Saidy at State House on Wednesday, January 16, 2002.

The boat was donated to the Essau health centre by the Dutch Foundation for the children of The Gambia to serve as a river ambulance. According to Mr Lamin Sarr, a representative of the Dutch Foundation for children in The Gambia, founded in 1995, they received a request from Essau for a river ambulance.

‘They gave us a specification of what they wanted and we took it to Mr Abdou Jawneh, (Construction Engineer of Fibre Glass) and manufactured it,” noting that the manufacturers consequently completed work on the boat in due course and handed it over to them.

The sum of D126, 360.00 was spent on the boat. “We've been shown statistics of deaths due to the fact that they couldn't get to RVH on time, that's why the ambulance is donated to Essau to be servicing between Barra and Banjul. The boat is faster than the ferry.

It can take 5-10 minutes from Barra to Banjul," Mr Sarr noted. In his remarks, the secretary of State for health, Mr Yankuba Gassama, said river ambulance service was going on in areas such as Jinak and Kuntaur which were however not functional now.

He described the new boat as one with capacity for 6 escorts, 2 sailors and 2 patients on stretchers. In her remarks, vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy outlined the problems confronting health authorities in evacuating patients across the river.

She described the donation as “a good opportunity”. further describing Mr Lamin Sarr of the Dutch Foundation as a philanthropist who hadbeen linking The Gambia with well meaning donors outside.

Commenting on the good work of the manufactures of the boat, the vice president said Mr Abdou Jawneh, construction engineer of Fibre Glass was leading the way for other youths to follow. She urged Mr Jawneh to encourage other disable persons like him to take advantage of the skills in fibre glass production.

Present at the presentation were Mr Musa Jawneh, sales manager of Fibre Glass, Commissioner of CRD, Mr. Alamo Touray, commissioner Western Division, Mr EK Sarr, secretary of state for justice, Mr Joseph Joof, secretary of state for Interior Mr Ousman Badjie, and senior army and police personnel.