The Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) on Saturday, presented various items worth over D100,000 to the Presidential Treatment Programme, at a presentation ceremony held at the Serrekunda Hospital, Kanifing. The donation included a lap top, digital cameras, printers, bedsheets and food stuff.

In a similar development, Lala’s Cleansing and Supplies Service, also made a donation of various invaluable materials worth over D50,000, to the programme. They included cartons of bleach, disinfectants, 124 bedsheets and plastic chairs.

Speaking at the ceremony, Alieu Mboge, the director general of the Gambia Tourism Authority, acknowledged that thousands of Gambians and non-Gambians have been benefiting from the treatment programme and expressed his institution’s interest in the institutionalisation of the programme.

The GTA boss commended President Jammeh for saving humanity from the scourges of various diseases and urged the private sector to pitch in assistance for the continuity of the treatment.

Fatoumatta Jah, the proprietor of Lala’s Cleansing and Supplies Service, said the president has saved thousands of lives through his treatment programme and called on Gambian business women to support the cause.

Dr Tamsir Mbowe, the director general of the Presidential Treatment Programme, thanked the donors for their timely intervention, saying that the donations will go a long way in complementing the efforts of the treatment programme.

Dr Mbowe disclosed that since the inception of the programme in January 2007, the president has been single handedly bearing the cost of various treatments, including feeding. However, he said the recent assistance reaching the programme will ease the burden.

“We in the Presidential Treatment Programme fully understand the amount of money he spends in the programme, because millions of Dalasis have so far been spent.

The president initiated the programme not to amass wealth or make a name for himself, but to save humanity,” Dr Mbowe elaborated.
Dr Mbowe used the opportunity to call on other institutions and the general public at large to emulate the donors.

The construction of a road project linking Sotumakoi and Numuyel Village in the Upper River Region (URR) will commence soon, as the Basse Area Council has already presented a cheque for D100,000 to Momodou Camara, the chairman of the Numuyel Villlage Development Committe, at a presentation ceremony held in Numuyel Village.

The 6km road project has been contracted to Ballast Nedam and is expected to be completed in three months.

Presenting the cheque, Omar Sompo Ceesay, the chairman of Basse Area Council, said the initiative was part of his council’s contribution to the development of the region. He maintained that the Basse Area Council will continue to plough back part of its revenue to the people in order to improve their livelihoods.

Chairman Ceesay disclosed that the council will purchase two tractors to improve the sanitary condition of the region.

At the ceremony, URR Governor Alhaji Omar Khan advised the people of the area to continue to be loyal to the government and urged them to continue paying dues to the area council on time. He expressed his gratitude and called on the village development community to be supportive of the contractors and take good care of the road once completed.

The ceremony was attended by the deputy governor, Alhaji Haji Kulley Camara, the chief of Jimara District and members of the community of Basse.

Nusrat Senior Secondary School in partnership with Africell, yesterday opened a week-long celebration of the Nusrat Science and Technology Week on the theme ‘accelerating science and technology” at a ceremony held at the school premises in Bundung.

Speaking at the opening, K.S Bojang, principal of Nusrat High School stated that the importance of such an event cannot be over-emphasised. He stated that the contribution of science to the world today is colossal and immeasurable. He commended Nusrat and Africell for coming up with such an initiative which he added, will surely accelerate science and technology in The Gambia to further move closer to realising the dream of attaining the Silicon Valley.

He congratulated Africell for sponsoring the week long event with D100,000, 300 sim cards and phones among other supportive incentives for the successful hosting of the event.

He then confirmed that the school has now taken up science as a field of study and ICT as a tool for research and development. “The school also provided free internet services to students to further ensure that they have all ICT accessories to their disposal” he said.

For his part, Njundu Fatty, managing director of Lasting Solutions who was the guest speaker, described IT as a very wide and broad area which has all information systems under its umbrella, such as computers, internet, television, radio and mobile phones among others.

He then tagged the area as a growing field in The Gambia which is emerging as a very strong and dynamic force in the country’s economy and social sphere.

Examining the importance of  ICT to The Gambia’s economy today, Mr Fatty noted that at least four banks have ATM services which are very convenient, along with the advent of internet and SMS banking which are all made possible by ICT systems.

On the telecoms sector, he remarked “we currently have 3 GSM providers who are all making great impacts  the ICT due to the healthy competition existing”. He advised students to make use of the available opportunity to develop the necessary IT expertise required for development.

The week long celebration sponsored by Africell will be characterised by debates between various schools, quiz competitions, subject and research presentations by students and a march pass by students.

Football fans in and around Banjul will have to pay one hundred dalasis each to watch the Scorpions against the Terenga Lions of Senegal on Sunday, June 8, at the Independence Stadium.

Tickets to the VIP Section of the stadium will cost D1,000 (one thousand dalasis) while the tickets for the uncovered pavilions will cost D100 each (one hundred dalasis).

The ticket price for the covered pavilion is pegged at D100 (two hundred dalasis).

These details were revealed by chairman of the GFA marketing committee, Major-General Langtombong Tamba, who doubles as first vice-president of the national football’s governing body.

The sales will start on Sunday morning with the GFA Secretariat serving as the main sale outlet.

Meanwhile, the organising committee has allocated the opposite of the  scoreboard pavilion to the fans of the visiting team. The other pavilions will be occupied by the home fans.

The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices affecting the health of women and children (GAMCOTRAP) with support from the Inter African Committee on Traditional Practices based in Addis Ababa has provided over one hundred thousand dalasi (D100,000,00) to nineteen circumcisers from the Upper and Central Regions to engage in alternative employment opportunities project.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Dr Isatou Touray, the Executive Director of GAMCOTRAP, said that the process involved series of trainings to create awareness amongst circumcisers on the effect of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other harmful traditional practices.

Dr Touray called on the communities to support the circumcisers and emphasised the need for bringing up girls in al positive manner to be good role models in society without harm.

The chief of Kantora, Alhagie Bachu Ceesay of Garawol, Alkalo Lasana Manneh of Basse manneh Kunda amongst others reminded the circumcisers that they voluntarily stopped the practice of FGM after getting the facts about the event it has on sexual and reproductive health and they also called on them to make best use of the opportunity provided to them to enhance their economic status.

The Alkalo of Kaba Kama, Aji Fatou Danso commended GAMCOTRAP for the approach it takes to present facts on FGM with  respect and dignity in the communities. She noted that the support given to the circumcisers will go a long way towards addressing poverty in their families while protecting girls from harm.

In receiving the support, all the beneficiaries expressed their appreciation to GAMCOTRAP for fulfiling its promise and vowed to keep to their words to protect girl children from FGM.

The support is based on feasibility study amongst beneficiaries, followed by training on microfinance and management of small scale business enterprises. The circumcisers identified animal rearing, pettytrading, pottery, tie and dye and support to develop gardening as their areas of interest.

The ceremony was witnessed by eleven different Alkalolu, women’s leaders and family member of the circumcisers who have decided to stop practicing FGM