The Indian community in The Gambia on Monday donated materials to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) and also pledged to make a general renovation of the hospital's eye clinic at a ceremony held at the hospital grounds.

The donated items include 29 inch TVs, blankets, a refrigerator and flasks. They were estimated to cost over D150,000. The rehabilitation of the eye unit is estimated at D700,000. The hospital also received an ultra sound machine from the Gambian Shipping Agency and a mobile x-ray machine and vision measuring machine from Helping Hand at a joint ceremony.

Delivering a statement at the ceremony, Dr Tamsir Mbowe, who is the chief medical director of the hospital, hailed the organisations for their assistance to the health sector. Dr Mbowe quoted His Excellency Professor Yahya AJJ Jammeh's words that "health is not everything, but without health, everything else is nothing". He added that health is the central long term driver of economic growth and no system can develop without a proper health system.

For his part, Ram Mohan, the honourary consul general of India in The Gambia, thanked the Indian community in The Gambia for their contribution, adding "The Gambia is our second home, we will continue to contribute to the welfare of the nation and we hope to do better". He also added that the donations coincides with the 60th Republic Day of India, which is today, the 26th of January 2009.

Babucarr Ngum, who chaired the ceremony, thanked the Indian community, the Gambia Shipping Agency and Helping Hand. Others speakers included Lamin Touray, the coordinator of Helping Hand and Abdoulie B Sawo, the operations manager at the Gambia Shipping Agency.