By Nelson Manneh
The World Health Organization (WHO) has donated materials for coronavirus prevention measurer to the Ministry of Health on Friday March 6th 2020.
The materials donated to the Ministry of Health include gloves, bio-hazard, chlorine NaDCC, triple package boxes, gowns, face shields, thermometer, safety boxes, respiratory and surgical masks, protective goggles amongst others.
Dr. Desta A. Tiruneh, the WHO representative in the Gambia said there is no case reported so far in the country but that the virus is spreading fast; that this is what prompted his Organisation to donate the materials to the Ministry of Health to prevent the virus from entering into the country.
“We are not praying for it to reach this country but when a case was reported in Senegal, that showed us a signal that it can reach this country any time,” he said. Dr. Tiruneh said the donated materials are part of those donated to West Africa by the WHO and were packed in Ghana.
“We donate this amount because the Gambia is free from the virus as at now. But anytime a case is reported, we will bring in more,” he asserted.
He urged the Ministry of Health to put the materials into good use saying there is a shortage of such materials as they are needed everywhere.
In his response, Dr. Ahmad Lamin Samateh, the Minister of Health said the donated materials will help his Ministry in their preparations against the spread of the deadly virus and in putting up measures to prevent the virus from entering the country.
“We have already distributed some materials to border stations and other entry points of the country and we are doing all our best to make sure that it does not reach this country,” he said.
Minister Samateh said there is no case reported in the country, but was quick to add that they will not relent in their quest until all preventive measures are put in place.
The coronavirus epidemic which started in China, has so far claimed the lives of many people across the globe, with cases of the virus reported recently in neighboring Senegal.
The National Assembly Select Committee on Health has also visited border entry posts to inspect the country’s state of preparedness in those places, to prevent the coronavirus from entering Gambian soil.
