1st lady foundation awards 1st 2020 babies

Fatou Bah Barrow Foundation (FABB) with the support from Gamtel/Gamcel and Karpowership, has yesterday awarded a total cash of 75, 000 dalasi and baby clothing to first six identified born babies in 2020 from Banjul, Serrekunda and Bundung hospital.

The first-born babies were awarded with a sum of 15, 000 dalasi with the support from Gamtel/Gamcel, while the second babies were sponsored by Karpowership with the amount of 10, 000 dalasi.

Ahmad Lamin Samateh, the minister of health said the even has been allocation that takes place every beginning of a new year, to welcome the first and second babies of the year.

“The first lady’s endeavor should be emulated in helping each other because no one can do it without us. The engine of development should come from us.”

He applauds the nurses, while saying that working in a health sector is very difficult and is a risk.

However Dr. Samateh believed that 2020 would be a gate changer, adding that they have started mobilizing some resources with their partners to help the health sector.

Kebba Sanneh, the Public Relation Office of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), said this has becomes a tradition that every end of year, the first lady of the do donate  the first, second and third born of the year respectively.

“This year the first born in EFSTH was born at the hours of 12.49am and the baby mother's name is Oumie Jallow, the baby is a female. The second male baby was born at 01:45 by Haddy Mendy. We are happy that our own staff in the hospital happen to be a winner of this wonderful gift”. He said

Dr. Charles Robert, Deputy Medical Director at EFSTH, said it is always a joyous occasion when a new baby is born in EFSTH, but must particular in a day like this, which happens to be a start of a new year.

Kebba Manneh, the Chief Executive Officer of Kanifing Hospital has thanked the donors for the great gestures and continues support to FABB foundation.

“Our first baby in Kanifing was born at 12:03 am and is a girl, while the second baby boy born at 12:35am.”

The first baby’s mother is Binta Jassey from Sukuta and the second mother is Binta Bojang from Willingara.

Dwelling on the difficulties they are facing, CEO Manneh stated that their first challenge is space; adding that they are working very hard to expand the hospital but need support.

“We are hoping to have new equipment to be able to carry easy delivery in our hospital. With the good gesture, I hope the beneficiaries will make the best use of the materials given to them.”

Fatou Ceesay, representative of FABB stated that they have been coming here for the past years for similar occasion in supporting the first, second and third babies of the year,” She said.

According to Madam Ceesay, the foundation was launched in 2017, adding that the first lady came with the initiative to support the health sector, and as part of the good gestures this initiative of supporting the first baby of the year is part of it.

Similar engagement was held at the Bundung Hospital, where the fist born baby was welcomed at 01:46am and her mother is Ananias E. Mendy from Besse, while the second baby boy was born at 01:55am and her mother is Saho Ceesay from Bundung.