Her Excellency First Lady Madam Zineb Yahya Jammeh, on Monday presided over the presentation of some donated bio-medical equipment for various hospitals across the country at a ceremony held at State House.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony Madam Zineb Yahya Jammeh seized the opportunity to wish all the people who were present and Gambians at large Ramadan Karim and prayed for Allah to continue to shower his richest blessings upon them.

Madam Jammeh further indicated that it is her duty and responsibility as the mother of the nation to give help and support to hospitals to ensure quality health service delivery for all the citizenry.

"We are all aware that ensuring high quality medical service to the populace requires a constant supply of modern and state-of-the-art equipment and medical supplies. As medical technology is improving on a daily basis so is the need to re-equip our medical facilities with the latest equipment to be able to overcome today's medical challenges," she noted.

She went on: "It may interest you to know that First Ladies of Africa including my humble self, have since year 2001 to date, united as advocates in the fight against maternal, newborn morbidity (illnesses) and mortality (death), a mother-to-children transmission of HIV infection which has plagued our continent," First Lady Jammeh remarked. She added that First Ladies have signed relevant declarations that are tandem with polices of their respective governments so as to advocate for and lobby government to give high priority to the alarming health indicators by ensuring that the required resources are made available on a continuous basis to save lives.

"In my personal capacity, I hereby pledge to continue to advocate for, and mobilize additional resources both financial and material, such as these items about to be donated to our hospitals", she said.

She urged health workers to join hands to work harder for the continuous availability of trained and committed health workforce especially in the rural hospitals and health centers for them to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) 4, 5 and 6 among others.

She also seized the opportunity to thank her husband, His Excellency Sheikh professor Dr Alhaji Yahya A J J Jammeh and his government for removing the financial barrier to access by debarring a free of charge health services for mothers and children less than five years of age, over the past 3 years.

Dr Tamsir Mbowe in his vote of thanks said Ramadan is a month of abundant blessings, forgiveness and charity giving and expressed gratitude for witnessing yet another donation from Her Excellency Madam Zineb Jammeh.

"It is with great honour to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the First Lady for her continuous care and support to the health sector especially her contribution to areas of maternal and child health, blood donation and the fight against HIV/AIDs," he stated.

"Your Excellency you are not only a philanthropist, but a healer of the sick and a great mother of the nation", he said. He concluded by praying for Allah to guide and protect the First Lady and the family and The Gambia and assured her of proper distribution of the materials.

Aji Fatou Jammeh