The First Lady Madam Zineb Yahya Jammeh has launched the Unicef State of the World’s Children Report 2008 on behalf of President Jammeh, at a ceremony held at the Sheraton Hotel in Brufut heights. The theme for this year’s launch is “Child Survival”.

Speaking at the ceremony, Madam Zineb Jammeh thanked Unicef and all stakeholders who participated in the technical review which preceeded the launch ceremony.

“On behalf of the Gambian leader, I am please to received this call to action of the plight of children in The Gambia. This call to action is a true objective towards the cause of children in The Gambia,” she said, adding that The Gambia Government is committed to this call in reducing child death by 2015.

She assured that The Gambia government will continue to create an enabling environment for children and commended the Unicef country team and partners for their collaboration towards attaining the goals.

For her part, Mrs Min Whee Kang, the Unicef representative in The Gambia, said nearly 10 million children die before their fifth birthday (half of these deaths occur in Africa) annually. However, she said the mortality rate for children under the age of five decreased by 15 per cent between the year 1990 and 2006 in Sub-saharan Africa, but she maintained that Sub-saharan Africa remains the most difficult place for a child to survive.

According to her, the new information in the State of the World’s Children 2008 is drawn from household survey data, as well as material from key partners, including the World Health Organisation and the World Bank.

In the Gambia, she said, they have seen good progress achieved in the reducing child deaths by a quarter over a period of almost two decades, saying that one area of progress is in child survival. She said this has been extended to ITNs (Insecticide Treated Nets), which has jumped from 14% in 2000 to 54% today, making The Gambia the leading country in the race towards the 2010 target to Abuja goal of 80% of children under age five sleeping under ITNs nationally. “In the area of access to water, the country also registered tremendous progress, with 85% of the population gaining access to improved drinking  water,” she added.

Mrs Kang urged all stakeholders to unite for child survival. “Child survival is not only a human rights imperative, it is also a development imperative. Investing in the health of children and their mothers, is a sound economic decision and one of the surest ways for a country to set its course towards a better future,” she told the gathering.

For his part, Dr Malick Njie, the secretary of state for Health and Social Welfare, said every year, Unicef prepares a comprehensive report detailing the plight of the children of the world.

“Children are our future, because if there are no children, there is no future. Out of the eight MDGs, the fourth largest is where the cycle known as human development begins”, he said.

SoS Njie said stressed that children should be protected against malnutrition, human trafficking and other forms of abuse. According to him, lack of access to good health contributes to the suffering of children.

Other speakers at the launch included the UN resident coordinators Chinwe Dike, Ndey Mbasin Jobe, a child activist, who presented a report on the ‘Call to Action’. Jeggan Grey-Johnson, communications officer of Unicef Gambia, chaired the ceremony.

Madam Sia Myama Koroma, the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leaone on Friday met Dr Aji Isatou Njie-Saidy, Vice President and secretary of state for Women’s Affairs at her office at State House, Banjul.

Madam Koroma who was accompanied to State House by Madam Kadija Sam-Sumaha, wife of the Sierra Leonean Vice President, was led to State House by Mohammed Foday Yumkella, the Sierra Leonean High Commissioner in The Gambia. Speaking to journalist soon after her audience with Vice President Njie-Saidy, Madam Koroma said she was in The Gambia to thank citizen for the tumultuous welcome accorded to her husband and what every Gambia did for him during his recent state visit to The Gambia.

She noted that, she has also discussed with Vice President Njie-Saidy, issues relating to The Gambia-Sierra Leone relations, women’s issue, child rights, human rights, development among other things. She then expressed hope that the two countries will forge partnership on women and child rights to ensure that the objectives set are achieved.

Little Jainaba receives D110,000 for treatment

Thanks to the readers of the Daily Observer, including the First Lady Madam Zainab Yahya Jammeh, our plea for assistance for the treatment of little Jainaba Jallow has borne much fruit. Two hours after the Daily Observer hit the street, a Gambian gentleman, who prefers to remain anonymous, rang to offer D20,000. With the Daily Observer’s own contribution, the total of D30,000 needed to continue Jainaba’s treatment in Dakar, Senegal, had been reached.

At 11:00 am, the Daily Observer received a call from the Vice-President’s Office, informing us that the First Lady had offered Jainaba D50,000.

“We were overwhelmed as we drove the little girl’s grandmother and their supporter, Fatou Kanyi of Standard Chartered Bank, to collect the money from the vice-president. But that was not all”, said the MD of the Observer Company, Dida Halake.

The deputy MD of the Observer Company, Andrew Dacosta had received another surprise for for the little girl. A well-known Gambian, who again wishes to remain anonymous rang to offer D20,000, while yet another rang to offer D10,000. By the end of the day, the generosity of Gambians had raised a total sum of D110,000 for Jainaba’s treatment and welfare.

Welfare Trust Fund

A quick meeting between the Observer’s MD, his deputy, and the girl’s supporter, Fatou Kanyi, concluded that an account will be opened today in the name of little Jainaba Jallow, with deputy MD Andrew Dacosta and Fatou Kanyi as trustees/signatories.

“The money will be used exclusively for Jainaba’s welfare, specifically medical treatment and food. Fatou Kanyi will travel to Dakar with D30,000 so that Jainaba’s treatment can continue.

We wish to thank our readers, including the First Lady, for such an overwhelming response to little Jainaba’s plight. Thanks to your generosity her future will be much brighter should she, Inshallah, come through her gruelling operation.

We will keep you informed of her progress, and ask that if you want to contribute to her funds further, Andrew Dacosta will be happy to receive and bank all donations for her, however small. Thanks again,” said Observer’s emotional MD, Dida Halake.

The First Family, on Monday, played host to several dignitaries at State House Gardens for the traditional naming ceremony of Baby Muhammed Yahya Jammeh. Baby Jammeh, is the second child of President Jammeh and First Lady Zeinab Jammeh, the first being the eight-year old Mariam Jammeh.

The ceremony began with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Muslim elders, a clear indication of President Jammehs adherence to Islam. Soon after that, the President arrived in his usual white gown carrying Baby Jammeh in his arms, wrapped in a white cloth and accompanied by First Lady Zeinab Jammeh in a sea green Arab-styled Abaya. They went around the gathering to formally show the newest member of the First Family to the dignitaries.

Alhagie Everybody Mbye, Chief Griot to President Jammeh, was given the podium to announce the name of Baby Jammeh. He was then showered with cash in a show of appreciation and in line with Gambian tradition at naming ceremonies.

Explaining the rationale behind the President’s decision to name his son after Muhammed, the Prophet of Islam, the erudite Imam of State House Mosque, Alhaji Abdoulie Fatty said the President’s decision was in recognition of the blessings the Almighty has showered on him in making him the President of The Gambia. According to him, President Jammeh’s assumption to power way back in 1994 was done with the blessing of the Almighty, consequently, its peaceful nature.

Cadi Sering Alieu Saho, though not feeling well, made it to State House to recite a poem he specially dedicated to Baby Muhammed Jammeh while Imam Muntaha Faye and Abdoulie Fatty sang religious songs.

In yet another manifestation of the joking relations that exist between the country’s ethnic groups, three members of the National Assembly, Netty Baldeh, a Fula, Abdoulie Saine and Sulayman Joof, both Serers, took the microphone from the master of the ceremony, Ebrima JT Kujabi and demanded that they be given something as they are the ‘Fathers’ of the Jolas, President Jammehs ethnic group. The President wasted no time in fulfilling their demands by giving them cash in recognition of the importance of the joking relatioship between the three ethnic groups, thus resulting in the eruption of laughter in some sections of the gathering.

This was followed by entertainment from the Kabakel Cultural Troupe and the KMC Ensemble followed by a delicious self-served lunch of various dishes. Baby Muhammed Jammeh’s naming ceremony was well planned as all the invited guests were well seated and ate to their satisfaction as the food was too abundant to be finished.

At the end of the ceremony, The Gambian leader said his personal goodbye to all guest and incredibly stayed behind to see everyboby off.