By Nelson Manneh
The Ministry of Agriculture has donated one hundred bags of 
parboiled rice to the Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
This came in the wake of the recent donation by the government People’s Republic of China, of one thousand, three hundred and eight (1308) metric tons of rice, to the government of the Gambia.
In handing over the rice on behalf of the minister of Agriculture, Mr. Hassan Jallow, said the rice donated to the government of the Gambia is for every Gambian and they are making all efforts that it reaches all Gambians especially the needy.
“Tanka Tanka is the only branch of the ministry of health that takes care of the mentally ill and need such assistance in order to take care of the patients. They also need food to survive the patients they admit here,” he noted.
In receiving the items, the permanent secretary at the ministry of health and social welfare, Mr. Dawda Ceesay, said the donation came at the right time, when it was most needed.
“We admit people with psychiatric disorders and they also need food to eat. Such gestures will help the hospital grow and build the confidence to admit more patients,’’ he said. He commended the ministry of Agriculture and urged them to continue the support.
Madam Saffie Low Ceesay, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare said as a hospital, they cannot endeavor to do it alone, and therefore need help from all sectors to be able to sustain the hospital.
“I cannot express my joy to the ministry of Agriculture for what they’ve done. This rice will be given to the Tanka Tanka psychiatric patients as it is meant for them and it will support them with the feeding program,” She said
It could be recalled that the People’s Republic of China, donated rice to the government of the Gambia, the first consignment of which was one thousand, three hundred and eight (1308) metric tons.
They are also expecting another consignment of one thousand, two hundred and sixty (1260) metric tons. This parboiled rice was handed to the ministry of Agriculture.
