Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, vice president and secretary of state for Women's Affairs, yesterday, launched the Transport Asset Manageemnt Programme on behalf of President Jammeh, at the July 22nd Square in Banjul.

The launching ceremony witnessed the commissioning of 47 ambulances, 24 pick-up vehicles, 13 pool vehicles, and 150 motorcycles supplied by Riders for Health (RFH). In her launching statement, Vice President Njie-Saidy said the launching of the Transport Asset Management Programme, which came as a result of the collaborative efforts between the Gambia government, through the department of state for Health and Social Welfare and the Riders for Health, seeks to provide effective and efficient management of health transports.

She recalled that since January 2007, when RFH took over the management of the national health fleet, government have noted with satisfaction, significant improvements in the health referral system, health outreach services, and the timeliness of transportation of the much needed medical supplies and drugs to the health facilities across the country.

VP Njie-Saidy further revealed that the Gambia Government, in fulfilment of its obligation under the Transport Asset Management Programme, to meet the running costs of this fleet, has augmented its annual budgetary allocation to D24 million that would be disbursed to Riders for Health, quarterly as opposed to the monthly budgetary allocation and disbursement system.

She described the provision of adequate health services as a move which  is in line with government's development priorities, as indicated in the PRSP 11 and Vision 2020. "The vehicle fleet that we are commissioning today is an important step towards alleviating the transport bottlenecks that staff face and would thus enable them to deliver uninterrupted health services to all the communities in The Gambia," VP Njie-Saidy remarked. She went on to urge users of the transport to regard them as expensive capital assets that require proper care and handling.

VP Njie-Saidy finally thanked the department of state for Health, Riders for Health, and all the collaborating institutions and individuals that have contributed in making this programme a reality. Speaking earlier, Barry Coleman, the executive director of RFH, called for greater care of the vehicles. He advised the users to utilise the vehicles for their purpose and also under-scored their vital role in saving lives. The RFH boss commended President Jammeh for his commitment in improving the health sector of The Gambia.

Lekan Sanusi, managing director of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) said this programme could not have been successful without the involvement of a local bank. He revealed that GTB alone gave of US$3.5 million to RFH for the implementation of the programme.

According to him, the loan is guaranteed by Skull Foundation in America, an organisation that also deposited an equivalent of US$3.5M at GTB.
The launching ceremony was attended by the speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, Secretaries, and staff of DOSHSW and staff of RFH. Sulayman Samba, permanent secretary of DOSHSW, chaired the ceremony.