Dr Malick Njie, secretary of state for Health and Social Welfare, yesterday, recieved, on behalf of the President's Treatment Programme, hospital beds and other valuable materials from the St George's Guilds - The Gambia Project in Denmark at a presentation ceremony held at the Serrekunda General Hospital in Kanifing.

St George's Guilds - The Gambia Project in Denmark is an organisation comprising of retired scouts and volunteers in collaboration with The Gambia Boden Powel and Guilds Fellowship. The retired scouts also made similar donations to the Medical and Health Services.

Presenting the items on behalf of the retired scouts in Denmark, Karin Boldsen, chairperson of the organisation said the donation is the fourth of its kind in 2007/2008. She expressed their resolve and commitment to extend helping hands to Gambians, in particular HIV/AIDS patients, noting that such gestures always go a long way in meeting the logistical requirements of the patients.

Madam Boldsen then expressed gratitude to her colleagues in Denmark for their efforts in collecting and packing the materials and urged them to continue.

Recieving the gesture on behalf of the beneficiaries, Dr Malick Njie commended the donors for extending helping hands to the HIV/AIDS patients under the President's Treatment Programme noting that the gesture will go a long way in facilitating the Presidential treatment programme and helping other hospitals under the Medical and Health Services.

SoS Njie noted that "it is always gratifying to see efforts geared towards helping the health sector. This should be a concern to all and sundry". He added that the donations manifest the concern the old scouts have for the patients living with the HIV/AIDS virus as well as other patients at the hospital.

SoS Njie then commended the donors for the laudable gesture and assured them that the items will be put to good use.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Pa Omar Bojang, project coordinator of the organisation and Ousman Semega-Janneh, secretary general of the Gambia Boden Powel and Guilds Fellowship.