Awa Manneh, a 17-year-old girl and a resident of Tanji is in urgent need of assistance to undergo an overseas treatment. According to a medical report issued from Bijilo Health Centre, dated 16th May 2012, Awa Manneh was presented at their health centre with one year history of progressive chest pain, dyspnoe recurrent fever, anorexia polyarthralgia and myalgia.

“She was admitted at Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital for prolonged period and visited several other health facilities without significant improvement,” the report indicated. “We advised Awa Manneh to seek cardiologic consultation and a cardiac work-up (trans-oesophageal echocardiography) as a first step to obtaining Valvuloplasty. To our knowledge these specialised diagnostic investigations and therapeutic attitudes are presently not readily available in The Gambia,” the report added.

Speaking to the Daily Observer, Kaddy Manneh, a sister to the patient, said Awa was with this sickness since last year. She revealed that she was taken to Dakar at Polyclinque El Hadj Malick Sy but is not yet better. According to her, her sister is in need of help to go for an overseas treatment, noting that the family is not financially strong enough to finance the trip. “I am appealing to government, NGOs, individuals and institutions to come to her aids,” she appealed.

Anyone willing to help can contact on the following numbers: 3658204/4399802.