By Yunus S Saliu
In aiding the movement of some physically challenged people in communities, a Gambian Denmark-based philanthropist, MrSulaymanJukungSawaneh, recently donated wheelchairs and crutches to physically challenged people in MannehKunda, Gambisara, Alihouare, GunjurKunta communities in the Upper River Region (URR).
The presentation of the wheelchairs and crutches was done on behalf of the donor by KumbaJabbie in different communities to the needy. The donation was done house to house in the different communities and witnessed by teachers, principals, and family members of the beneficiaries among others.
AbdoulieMballow, Regional Youth Committee member and representative of the disabled in Basse and also a beneficiary of a wheelchair thanked the donor Mr. SulaymanSawaneh through KumbaJabbie for this overwhelming gesture.
He noted that there are lots of physically challenged people in Basse and the region as a whole that need assistance, he, therefore, appealed to President Adama Barrow’s government to assist persons with disabilities with electric or ordinary wheelchairs, crutches, and other mobility equipment to aid their moving around.
Sincere speaking, Mr. Mballow said persons with disabilities in the Gambia are suffering in terms of mobility, therefore urged the Gambia Government to give support to persons with disabilities “We are facing a big challenge when it comes to going around without wheelchairs, crutches and so on we cannot go anywhere.”
“We need wheelchairs, crutches, white cane, and brail machines. We are also human beings. In terms of education, you should not leave us behind. Let them educate us because right now, our chairman of Gambia Federation of Disabled, Muhammed Krubally, is a Principal Magistrate and he is visually impaired, and we still have few others who are in the government and NGOs serving the nation,” he explained with emotion.
Amie Mbye Principal of Gambisara Basic Cycle School commended Mr. Sawaneh for the presentation while detailing the efforts that her student who benefited from the gesture always made vis-a-vis to school and home every day.
It was an emotional moment when one of the beneficiaries in the Alhouare community received a wheelchair presented to him by KumbaJabbie on behalf of the donor, Mr. SulaymanJukungSawaneh.
However, MrSulaymanJukungSawaneh, born in NjabaKunda, Central Baddibu, has been rendering humanitarian gestures to the needy for over two decades; he has supported different government sectors such as health facilities, education, prison departments, schools, and individuals among others.