By Maimuna Sey-Jawo
Riders for Health The Gambia has handed over 30 brand new motorcycles to the Ministry of Health for distribution among the health staff in North Bank and West Coast Regions respectively.
Speaking at the official handing over ceremony of those motorbikes, the Board Chairman of Rider for health, Ousman Yaboo, commended both the Ministry of Health and Riders for Health for their cordial relationship, as the event was yet another milestone in the annal history of both institutions.
“This is a development movement and was a result of commitment from both parties to ensure that they complement each other in national development,’ he said. While noting that, they acknowledge their efforts and contributions.
He seized the opportunity to advise the users of this motorcycles to properly maintain it as this can go a long way in helping delivery their duties effectively.
According to him, the operation started between the Ministry of Health and Rider for Health in 2002.
Mr Yaboo noted that the 30 Motorcycles handed over to MoH was part of the 100 motorcycles that Riders for Health supposed to replace in 2021, but due to COVID-19 they are able to produce this 30 and the remaining will be replace in early 2022.
Muhammed Lamin Jaiteh, Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Health commended Riders for Health The Gambia for their support to the Ministry of Health over the years, saying the ministry value and have high regard for the partnership, as it has grown from strength to strength.
According to PS Jaiteh, the motorcycles is a component of the overall transport medium that has facilitated service delivery for the country and for the ministry since inception.
Briefing members of press shortly before the handing over ceremony, Mr. Ken Decko, the Administrative Manager for Riders for Health, said the 30 Motorcycles are meant for the replacement of the old transport Asset management (TAM) in North Bank and West Coast Regions.
He explained that the main area of operation for Riders for Health is transport management in The Gambia.
He said that Rider for Health have contractual agreement with the MOH to manage all their transport, including ambulance, motorcycles, generators that are used by health workers. “We have three operation modules, namely; the Transport Asset Management (TAM), Transport Resource Management (TRM) and Demand Services (DM) respectively,” he pointed out.
According to him as per the TAM arrangements, Riders for Health owns the transport and release them out to government, provide transportation, fuel and the drivers and charge them what they call cost per kilometres at the end of each month.
