The Foundation For Research on Women's Health, Productivity and the Environment (BAFROW) and the Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD), recently received donations from one Pauline Link, a British national through Soroptimist International Gambia.

The donated items which include shirts, baby clothes, baby knitted blankets, medical text books and baby baths were donated to BAFROW at its Serrekunda clinic, while the Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) received over 50 pairs of crutches and wheelchairs; items donated by the Harrogate Hospital in the UK through Pauline.

Speaking at the BAFROW clinic in Serrekunda, the medical director at the clinic, Dr Hassan Azadeh, who is a senior gynaecologist, commended Link for the donation, saying the items will be very useful to the beneficiaries.

He stressed that as the need for health care goes up, there is the need to expand, adding that they don't see patients as individuals but as human beings who should be treated with care and dignity.

"We are running a clinic in Mandinaba and in Ndemban. It is not possible to run so many clinics with only 25 professionals," he lamented.

Dr Azadeh further stated that good health is something that everyone needs, while asserting that the gesture will help BAFROW in health care delivery.

"As you present these items to us, we are also proud to present to you what we have achieved so far," he stated.

The donor, Pauline Link, for her part, said patients need the support and care of not only the nurses and the doctors, but also the people when they are at the hospital.

"I am impressed with the way the clinic operates and I hope that there will be more opportunities for us to donate more of such items," she added.

The director of BAFROW, Fatou Waggeh, said Soroptimist International and her organisation have a long-standing relationship particularly in the areas of health, education and women empowerment.

She told the donor that the items were received at a time when they were urgently needed, and thus thanked her for the assistance.

The president of Soroptimist Club of Banjul, Ndella Faye-Colley, also commended Link for the donations, and expressed hope that the gesture would go a long way in helping people overcome their challenges.