By Yunus S Saliu
Contributing its quota to the need for health facilities in the country, the Cornerstone Group, Wednesday, officially handed over ten solar panels, and accessories to the paediatric surgery ward of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul.
The presentation was held at the teaching hospital and was attended by different officials including technicians among others.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Medical Director of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital was Dr. Cherno S Jallow, the Deputy Chief Medical Director who expressed gratitude to the management and staff of Cornerstone Group for this wonderful gesture.
“This is a good collaboration,” he noted while noting that the ward is the only pediatric surgery ward where all children operated are admitted.
Speaking on, he said Cornerstone Group has proven itself that it can do it “and we are very optimistic that with this collaboration, more and more will come. Therefore, we are very grateful, and on behalf of the EFSTH management and advisory committee, we thank you and honour this partnership.”
Musa Touray, Chief Executive Officer of Cornerstone Group acknowledged the presence of guests both from Senegal and The Gambia. He emphasized that anything that has to do with people’s health should be the responsibility of everyone and should be taken care of for generations to come.
While noting that the presentation is part of the commitment of Cornerstone Foundation, he, however, reiterated that “this cannot be done in the absence of the private sector and individual citizens who do not see business as an entity forprofit-making, but impacting life in every different way.”
So far, he revealed, “more than D3 million is spent on this, and it is part of having empathy, the heart to share the little that we have is one of those reasons that keeps us moving forward,” while concluding that the Gambia with a universal health coverage requires the participation of every Gambian.
Different heads of department at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital and senior officers of the Cornerstone Group made remarkable speeches at the official handing over of the solar panels and accessories to the hospital while the audiences were later taking on conducted tour of the donated equipment.
