The Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) on Saturday, presented various items worth over D100,000 to the Presidential Treatment Programme, at a presentation ceremony held at the Serrekunda Hospital, Kanifing. The donation included a lap top, digital cameras, printers, bedsheets and food stuff.

In a similar development, Lala's Cleansing and Supplies Service, also made a donation of various invaluable materials worth over D50,000, to the programme. They included cartons of bleach, disinfectants, 124 bedsheets and plastic chairs.

Speaking at the ceremony, Alieu Mboge, the director general of the Gambia Tourism Authority, acknowledged that thousands of Gambians and non-Gambians have been benefiting from the treatment programme and expressed his institution's interest in the institutionalisation of the programme.

The GTA boss commended President Jammeh for saving humanity from the scourges of various diseases and urged the private sector to pitch in assistance for the continuity of the treatment.

Fatoumatta Jah, the proprietor of Lala's Cleansing and Supplies Service, said the president has saved thousands of lives through his treatment programme and called on Gambian business women to support the cause.

Dr Tamsir Mbowe, the director general of the Presidential Treatment Programme, thanked the donors for their timely intervention, saying that the donations will go a long way in complementing the efforts of the treatment programme.

Dr Mbowe disclosed that since the inception of the programme in January 2007, the president has been single handedly bearing the cost of various treatments, including feeding. However, he said the recent assistance reaching the programme will ease the burden.

"We in the Presidential Treatment Programme fully understand the amount of money he spends in the programme, because millions of Dalasis have so far been spent.

The president initiated the programme not to amass wealth or make a name for himself, but to save humanity," Dr Mbowe elaborated.
Dr Mbowe used the opportunity to call on other institutions and the general public at large to emulate the donors.