Claire Hutchings, Secretary -General and Education Coordinator of the Gambia and Avon Fire Services, in partnership (GAFSIP) is currently on a working visit in The Gambia.

The aim of her visit is to find new areas where their partnership can make a real and sustainable difference, in particular, and to evaluate and monitor the impact that GAFSIP has had in their partnership with the Gambia Fire Service in the past.

In an interview with the Daily Observer, Mrs Hutchings, said she will be visiting Upper River Region North, and will take some furnitures there for schools.

She added that they have also sent some industrial sewing machines at the Fire Services Tailoring Workshop, to strengthen their work. "GAFSIP has brought many sewing machines for Kembujeh Women and Fire Fighters Wives Associations to help promote self-sufficiency. We have also sent some medical items to Bansang Hospital and to some clinics in the Upper River Region" she revealed.

For his part, Roger Bakurin, Chief Fire Officer of the Gambia Fire Service, said GAFSIP has succeeded for the past 17 years, adding that the donated items will reach the beneficiaries, and will be put into good use.

He noted that GAFSIP   has trained and provided a lot of fire fighting equipment for fire fighters, both in The Gambia and England .

According to the Gambia Fire Service boss, over 625   complete set of breathing apparatus are provided for the Gambia Fire Service.

"We are presently unloading a container at the GPA which contains medical items for the Fire Service Stations within The Gambia," he noted.

He then noted that GAFSIP is a service organisation that provides people's needs, both in distress and in other forms.

Mrs Hutchings, is expected to return back to England on Tuesday 6th November, 2007.