By Binta Jaiteh
France has donated 38,400 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to The Gambia through the ministry of health to help vaccinate people in the country.
Speaking at the receiving ceremony, Dr Ahmed Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health said: “Covid-19 is unprecedented the world has never seen this type of disease every country is challenged and hope it will be a big relief for the 19 thousand people who had first and waiting for the second dose to benefit. We have seen the devastation of many countries and loss of lives, even as we speak, including The Gambia.”
He went on that also people have seen the global unprecedented solidarity this also has never happen before and the unprecedented global solidarity which is spare headed in the case of the vaccine through the Covax facility, coordinating, and the equitable distribution of vaccine throughout the world.
He stated that the donated vaccines have shown the fundamental bilateral partnership and multi-lateral level to build the partnership higher especially in the health sector.
Desta Toroni of World Health Organization said the vaccine will save many lives in The Gambia as the vaccine is expected to vaccinate more of Gambians, noting that five months ago, the first vaccine were received while this is another consignment.
“Covid -19 has affected the whole world not only Gambia, we have received 30,400 of vaccine that 19 thousand Gambians will benefit from. We need more vaccine because this is not enough to make sure that we save more lives, the more people are vaccinated the less the covid-19 cases will decrease,” he told the people at the receiving center.
Therefore, “I urge every individual to be vaccinated as soon as possible and I assure the Gambians that the vaccines have no (bad) effect. Although covid-19 cases have been increasing recently in many parts of the countries including The Gambia we now have hope that it will decrease by immunization and vaccination,” he added.
Toshiko Takahashi UNICEF Rep, alluded to previous speakers saying receiving the vaccines is another historical moment and “we express our sincere appreciation to the French authorities for this live saving vaccine.”
