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Child Amputee Programme: Ebrima's Story

This year we are also supporting The GLOVE Project's child amputee programme

https://www.gloveproject.life/child-amputees

The profit from the Christmas card sale is currently supporting 4 child amputees.

One of them is EBRIMA, who's had a long journey of suffering.
This is his story.
This post is very long you say? Just imagine how endless this ordeal was for Ebrima.
Still, please take the time and read it, and consider contributing to his and other children's treatments and rehabs.

Warning: Graphic images below

In June 2022, (that time) 11yr old Ebrima was referred to Jackie (The GLOVE Project) by one of the doctors.

He had been in Banjul Hospital for 3 months whilst Drs fought to fight the infection that was literally eating him away. Both bones in his lower leg were broken and badly infected due to lack of treatment. By the time he reached hospital the infection had rotted most of his foot on his uninjured leg as well as parts of his arms where he has wide scarring.

He had surgery to screw and plate his lower leg bones on Thursday and also the surgeons had to massively duride his foot and take a skin graft from his thigh to try to cover his foot.

What an extreme situation . . . 

His father has been by his side for 3 months now, he has no funds left and can not borrow any more. The GLOVE project was funding Ebrimas much needed antibiotics and iv pain relief. Jackie also took him a carton of juice, lots of fresh fruit, some yoghurt and crisps. Ebrima and his father were over joyed and the gifts.

In July 2022, Ebrima has been in hospital for 4 months already.


EBRIMA is very chirpy despite all the metal in his leg to hold the bones together. The good news is the massive terrible infection that was literally eating him away is abating and the skin graft on his foot appears to have taken. There is still such a long way to go for this little boy.

August 2022:

Ebrima is as happy and smiley as ever despite the obvious pain and trauma he continues to go through. He continues to need "masses" of iv medication to keep the infection under control. His medication alone today cost D1300 to last until the team return on Friday.

EBRIMA it seems may be needing further skin grafting as the area over his exposed leg bone does not seem to be healing.

November 2022: "Little" Ebrima is still on the ward at the main hospital in Banjul where he is awaiting to be transferred to Ndemban to have all this "iron" external fixation removed

His surgery was scheduled for early October but hopefully it will go ahead soon. And yet he still smiles.

04 December 2022: The Wet Room at Jackie's house has been dug up and re laid and tiled (to make it wheelchair accessible) so now Ebrima can move in tomorrow with his brother.

As you can see from the second 2 photographs little Ebrima has been left to live in a room on basically a building site with no toilet or bathroom facilities in the care of his 16yr old brother. His father has had to return to Basse under threat of losing his job if he did not return. There is no mother on the scene to help care for Ebrima and he is scheduled to return to hospital for an out patients appointment in 2 weeks. The GLOVE Project has funded his life saving medications on the ward for almost 6 months thanks to amazing supporters.

However, the area of his thigh where the skin graft was taken is still not healing and is weeping through the dressings. We clearly can not leave him to live in these terrible conditions whilst he needs to much medical care and nutrition hence the decision to move him to Jackie's house pending his next hospital appointment.

Tomorrow Jackie and Baboucar will take him to a nearby hospital to have his dressings changed and check his wounds and also an xray of his leg to see if the bones are healing or not as this external fixation has been in place now for 6 long months.

December 2022: EBRIMA now safely at Jackie's house with his elder brother. Jackie took him to Dr Ding for wound dressing as this had not been changed for 5 days. The poor child was screaming hysterically before being touched.

This wound is from where they took the skin graft 6 months ago, it is not healing and is infected (microscopically confirmed).

The dressing needs changing daily and luckily one of Tilly's friends (Sophie) is visiting from UK who is a nurse and also attended the hospital with the child today. Sophie has undertaken to do the daily dressings for the next week and we shall see if any progress is made.

EBRIMA now has a wheelchair donated by David and Linda Chambers and we have been showing him how to move himself around. Sadly, there is so much muscle wastage even to move himself in the wheelchair is a problem.

A large part of the lack of healing, according to Dr Ding, is very poor nutrition and total lack of physio therapy for a very long period of time. This little boys condition is just heart breaking.

 

Jackie and the team will do their very best to try to improve the situation and the general health of Ebrima but this is going to take a very long time.

DRESSING CHANGES FOR EBRIMA are traumatic and difficult though absolutly crucial. The wonderful nurse Pierre who Jackie had previously met at Ndemban clinic, came to start to take over from our visiting nurse Sophie who will be leaving The GLOVE Project soon.

Pierre will be changing Ebrimas dressings every 2 days and has today taken the stitches out which had been in far too long.

Although extremely painful and traumatic for Ebrima you can see from the photographs he quickly returns to his happy smiley self.

There was a discussion with little Ebrimas Consultant after Jackie saw this Xray of this little one's leg. The Consultant confirmed they had attempted to put a 'spacer' in place but this didn't heal / was rejected. It seems Ebrima's immune system is so low any healing is a major problem. The Consultant is considering doing what is known as a fibula transplant. Taking part of the thinner bone (fibula) and using it to fill the gap in the thicker (Tibia) bone. Will this work ???

Jackie has been asked to bring him back to the Consultant in 2 weeks time.


January 2023: 
Young 12 yr old Ebrima has been at Jackie's house (with his 17yr old brother) since the 6th December after he was discharged from hospital into a small room on no more than a building site with no bathroom or toilet facilities. The father had to return to his work in Basse under threat of losing his job. There is no mother around.

Ebrima broke his lower leg but was not taken for treatment, massive osteomyelitis set in and ate so much of his little arms and legs. His right foot was so badly eaten away that a significant skin graft was taken from his right thigh back in early June to cover his foot. At the same time the surgeons tried to save his Tibia bone and placed the external iron fixation.

7 months later the donor graft area has still not healed and a nurse is being paid to come to the house every 2 days to change the dressings special dressings are also needing to be purchased and Ebrima remains on expensive oral antibiotics as well as a high protein diet. This regime and a clean environment is making all the difference to his wound healing and as you can see there are now significant improvements.

Unfortunately the orthopeadic surgeons have had to cut out a substantial part of the tibia bone due to advanced disease and infection and their plan now is to attempt a fibula transplant. This is substantial surgery with a very long recovery period.

Jackie is having significant problems getting to see the consultant with Ebrima and has been told today that he will not be back in clinic for another 2 weeks so we do not even know when this next surgery is going to be likely.

The GLOVE Project has funded Ebrimas iv antibiotics on the ward for many months, he can not return with his father to Basse as he is not fit to travel in his current condition nor will he get the medical and nutritional care that he needs to give him the best chance of healing, to save both his legs.

An awful situation for this little 12 Yr old boy, we just do not know what the future holds for him but we are sure you agree that we really do need to help him, to give him the best possible chance of recovery.

Currently Ebrimas medical care, feeding and additional staff is costing in excess of £300 each month (this includes the brother too )

18 January 2023: 

Jackie: "It was a very long and extremely hot day today of almost 11hrs across 2 hospitals. Firstly Banjul where we were hoping for a frank, open and honest consultation regarding further surgery for this lovely little lad. Both Ebrimas father and myself felt we were not achieving what we had set out to.

This led to a private consultation with Dr Marenah at Westfield Hospital where a very open and honest consultation took place in a way that Ebrimas father could fully understand, obviously Ebrima was not in the room for this.

There appears to be 2 "possible" options for Ebrima, one is the fibula transplant into the gap in his Tibia bone. However, with his history of 2 failed bone spacer grafts, extensive and massive osteomyelitis and very poor healing there appears to be significant risk of this failing. The only other (realistic) option would be amputation.

The conclusion is that Dr Marenah has forwarded all Ebrimas details and xrays onto a British team of orthopeadic surgeons who will be in Gambia in early March. They will fully review little Ebrima and decide IF a fibula transplant really is a feasible option for this little one or not. The father (and myself) were very happy with this and were both very pleased with Dr Marenah's kind, caring, honest and open approach to a very difficult, complex and sensitive case.

 

In the meantime Ebrima will need to continue to stay with me and continue the wound dressing changes every 2 days, reducing his risk of infection, building his immune system and his general muscle strength."

20 February 2023:
AT LONG LONG LAST EBRIMA'S THIGH WOUNDS FROM HIS SKIN GRAFT ARE HEALING.

The first photo (in blue shorts) was taken in early December.

The 2nd photo was taken this morning, almost 3 full months since Ebrima was moved to Jackie's house to receive appropriate care.

Thanks to donors The GLOVE Project has been able to fund specialist wound care dressing changes every 2 days by a qualified nurse throughout this time. Ebrima has received a good high protein diet and supplements, too and has been kept in a clean environment where he has thrived.

We are sure you will remember that this skin graft was taken from him in June 2022, almost 9 months ago. When he moved to Jackie's the wound was in an awful condition and was infected, Ebrima was also hysterical when it came to changing the dressing requiring 3 adults to hold him so the nurse could clean the wound and change the dressing.

The GLOVE Project is also happy to report that this hysteria has now stopped (after the first 5 to 6 weeks) and Ebrima now takes his own bandages off and does not need anyone to hold him. It is fantastic that the team have been able to give him this psychological support to overcome his fear and trauma.

The British Surgical Team will be in Gambia on 3rd/4th March and will review the next surgical options for young Ebrima.

A big thankyou to UNISON East Lancs Health Branch Office and Jane Aitken who have been instrumental in funding Ebrimas care, which as you can imagine, has been expensive.

03 March 2023: 

JUST LOOK AT EBRIMA'S WOUND TODAY.

We are Absolutly over joyed that at long long last this terrible wound is almost healed. This skin graft was taken in June 22. Ebrima was moved to Jackie's house on 2nd December to improve his nutritional state and for alternate day dressings. It has taken 3 full months in great conditions but finally ...... Percerverence, dedication and good care DOES pay off.

08 March 2023: 

"As you can see Ebrima was up sat in a chair this morning for a couple of hours following his first physio session. He screamed and cried despite good pain relief at 8am. No doubt he has pain following such major surgery, he also has a large degree of fear from the awfully traumatic 10 months he spent in hospital previously. This trauma is still clearly evident in him on the ward. Xrays and bloods were also done today and he managed to eat a yoghurt and finish a fortisip drink.

Regular decent pain relief is very important for Ebrima if we are to manage his past trauma without causing him further mental anguish.

Sadly all is not well on that front in my humble opinion. Despite his British consultant prescribing regular tramadol pain relief for a few days this was changed this morning by a Gambian Dr whose name was refused to me.

The only pain relief Ebrima is now allowed to have on a regular basis is a paracetamol tablet. He can only have a tramadol injection 'when needed' (and who will decide when that is)

When I questioned this I was told by the Dr. "If you continue to question these nurses they will refuse to treat this patient and rightly so"

Again Drs name withheld. This was said very loudly in front of many nurses who ALL agreed with the Dr and actually thanked him, and infront of a ward full of patients and their families. Another Dr present totally agreed and went on to say Ebrimas father had already been given todays prescription and unless that is found there won't be another one . . .  Ebrimas father had not been given any prescription.

The Hospital Matron came and 'smoothed' things in his usual very kind way, he also pointed out his office to Ebrimas father should any issues arise. This is a pretty horrifying situation and one I do not find easy to write about as there will no doubt be repercussions for me and potentially for Ebrima too."

11 March 2023

Just 4 days following extensive and major orthopaedic surgery Ebrima is beaming. He says he has no pain and just "wants to get back to Aunty Jackie's House".

He is eating and drinking well, spending most of the day out of the bed and sitting in a chair. He is weight bearing (with assistance) on the leg the surgeons took the bone from and is having daily physiotherapy, what an amazing and brave little boy.

14 March 2023: EBRIMA IS OUT OF HOSPITAL.

Ebrima is so very happy to be back at "Aunty Jackie's" house following his major surgery just 6 days ago. His huge smiles say it all.

The next 6 to 8 weeks are critical to see if the fibula transplant has worked, the leg needs careful management as the 'new' bone could easily be snapped. A very fragile situation with the need for really good plaster and wound care, building up nutrition and the need for 24hr care. This is a big task for Jackie and the team though we know they will continue to do their best.

DAY 7 AND EBRIMA IS UP USING A WALKING FRAME.

What determination from this child.

Once his trunk is stronger using the frame to stand the team will help him progress to crutches. Nor an easy task when his weight bearing leg is also in plaster and has had the fibula removed.

20 March 2023:

Ebrima's wound is now, at long last closing fantastically. The British surgical team left some aloe vera sterile wipes for cleaning, surgical antiseptic spray as well as some special dressings specific for skin grafts. They advised post surgery that these be used as well as starting to apply local honey to the wound. Dressings are still changed every 2 days but what a difference. 16 WEEKS OF SPECIALIST 24HR CARE TO GET THIS FAR BUT HOW FANTASTIC ARE THESE IMPROVEMENTS ?

From a very distraught and traumatised child who needed three adults to hold him to change the dressings to now, well, cool as a cucumber.

Well done Ebrima and well done to Jackie and the team.

Tomorrow marks 14 days since Ebrima had his fibula transplant.

21 March 2023:

EXACTLY 14 DAYS AGO THIS AFTERNOON, EBRIMA HAD A FIBULA TRANSPLANT DONE

NOT ONLY IS HE WEIGHT BEARING ON HIS 'GOOD' LEG BUT HE IS MOVING.

He can not weightbear on the leg that has received the transplant for 6 months and this is the first time in more than 17 months that he has been able to utilise his other leg due to horrendous joint and muscle eating infection.

17 April 2023:

EBRIMA'S WOUNDS ARE CONTINUING TO HEAL NICELY, HE IS SO HAPPY TO SEE THE PROGRESS.

When Ebrima moved to Jackie's house on 2nd December these wounds were deep, infected and horrific, the child was absolutly hysterical when anyone went near him to change the dressings needing 3 adults to hold him down. Poor Ebrima had suffered the most terrible trauma during his 10 months in hospital.

After approx 6 weeks Ebrima calmed down and soon felt safe and cared for that the hysteria stopped and the visiting nurse was able to change the dressings with less trauma.

On the recommendations of Drs honey treatment was tried but after 2 weeks the wound was wet, messy and not healing so the nurse reverted back to dry dressings and now we are seeing improvements again.

Dressings have been changed every 2 days for almost 4 months now, the nurse, good nutrition has made all the difference to this little boys healing.

Walking with crutches does not seem such a big deal but for this 13yr old boy it is an absolute MASSIVE achievement, let us explain.

EBRIMA has been absolutly riddled with a bone and joint eating infection called osteomyelitis, a large part of his tibia bone in his left leg was infected and removed and he was left in an iron fixation for more than 9 months. He was terribly malnourished when he was placed with Jackie on 2nd December 2022. He could not even move himself in a wheelchair, he had no strength at all.

Ebrima has not been "upright" for more than 18 months until recently. He has progressed through learning to use a walking frame, to under arm pit crutches to what you see today thanks to the determination of Jackie and the team. It has not been easy, Ebrima had a 2 week period where he seemed to have decided that he wanted to stay in a wheelchair and not regain any independence but with the perseverance of the team this was over come and today we are so happy to share this amazing progress.

A little boy who was at high risk of losing a leg, who really was not likely to ever leave a wheelchair, to be forever dependent on others for his mobility. The dedication of the team is clearly demonstrated here with Ebrima who has lived with Jackie since 2nd December 2022, whose nutritional status is now normal, a little boy terribly traumatised is now thriving. His skin graft donor site continues to heal and we are all so happy for him.

He will soon be having xrays to see if the fibula transplant has taken and we will then be clearer on his future.

29 April 2023: 

Today Ebrima had his xrays done some 7 weeks post fibula transplant to see if the transplanted bone was starting to 'take'

Unfortunately for Ebrima Dr Marenah is not in the country so he was not able to be reviewed so we shall await the outcome regarding "what next" with bated breathe.

Has the transplant worked ?

If not then amputation would be the only option.

If it is working should the plaster be changed ?

Kept at full length or reduced to below knee?

Hopefully the xrays will be reviewed remotely and we should soon find out more.

The bone is clearly still in alignment though very fragile and continues to need a lot of 'protection ' and good care, no weight-bearing for a very long time yet.

12 May 2023:

As You can see, at long long last the skin graft site is eventually healing. This skin was taken in early June last year and when Ebrima moved to Jackie's house on 2nd Dec 22 it was deep and terribly infected. NOW a whopping 161 days later it is almost closed. A nurse has been visiting every 2 days, thats over 80 (paid) dressing changes at approx £8.50 per time plus the dressing materials. . . Yes, that is a LOT of money, but if left then we dread to think what would have happened to this little boy.

Now the not so good news. Ebrima is in the awful state he is because of an infection called osteomyelitis which was left untreated for a very long time it ate away his foot and ankle joint, a lot of his knee and his hand and arm all on his 'good side' as well as eating away a large chunk of his tibia bone which led to the fibula transplant in March of this year.

We thought the infection had cleared some considerable time ago but this past 2 weeks the team have been battling with what appears to be a fresh outbreak just under his right arm.

This has lead to cleaning, packing and dressing 3x every day. Thankfully the foul smelling discharge pouring from the area appears to be subsiding. This area may need to be surgically opened and the bone 'scraped' to clear the infection properly.

The team continues to await review by Dr Marenah on both this and to find out if the fibula transplant has actually worked.

 

This poor little lad has really been through so much and yet he continues to smile.

17 May 2023:

Dr Marenah (and the British Surgeons) are happy with Ebrimas recent xrays and confirm there is no sign of the transplant failing. On Saturday his full leg plaster will be reduced to below knee though none weight bearing, for a further 4 to 6 weeks.

THEN changed to a partial weight bearing (or an Orthopeadic Boot) for a minimum of 6 months. What fantastic news. . .

SADLY there is some not so good news for this little lad. Most of his body was riddled with massive osteomyelitis which caused all of these problems in the first place. It would appear the nasty, rotten infection has reactivated at the top of and under his right arm. The poison is literally running out despite dressings being changed 3x per day.

 

Ebrima will have an xray at Westfield on Saturday when he attends to have his plaster cast changed. Dr Marenah wants to see what's happening with this infection and find a way forward with its treatment. Ebrima is now losing weight likely due to this infection and this is all an added worry.

20 May 2023: 

Little EBRIMA has now progressed from a full leg POP to a below knee plaster and he is absolutly thrilled. 4 to 6 more weeks then the plaster can come off and he can then start (partial) weight bearing in an orthopaedic boot on this leg which is where he had the fibula transplant in early March.

He celebrated with a hair cut and a big fat sticky donut and why not?

SADLY the news is not so straight forward with regards to his active osteomyelitis. The xray does not give a definitive answer and was reviewed immediately by Dr Marenah who recommends an MRI scan as the infection could he in his upper chest area. An MRI scan will definitely be able to confirm where this infection is sitting, so they really need to get this done which will of course cost ...

This little lad has been through so so much, he has come so very far and made so much progress, at times even "against the odds" but he still has so far to go yet and the fact the infection has reactivated really could be a huge issue. Until we get the MRI things will continue to hang in the balance.

25 June 2023:
YESTERDAY WAS A MASSIVE MILESTONE FOR EBRIMA as well as for Jackie and Baboucar. 

AT LONG LAST Ebrima has had his plaster cast removed and is now able to stand on his own 2 legs with the aid of an orthopaedic boot, for the FIRST time in over 2 years this little boy is now relearning to walk.

His body was ravaged by the terrible osteomyelitis infection that has eaten a lot of his tibia, ankle, wrist, elbow and shoulder. He had a massive skin graft and the site would not heal. He had several operations and was left with a massive metal external fixation on his leg for over 9 months with no hope of removing it until Gam Med stepped in via Dr Kebba Marenah and undertook a fibula transplant to give this boy some hope for the future.

It has been a very long haul for the team who has been involved with Ebrima since last June. He has been at Jackie's house since the 2nd December and the cost for his 24hr care, all his wound care and medical care has been very significant for this small charity. The dedication and commitment from the team has been above and beyond what anyone would expect considering the ongoing home visits, monitoring and residential rehabilitation of the child amputees that has continued throughout.

Ebrima has battled against all the odds and to now see him up on 2 legs relearning how to walk is just overwhelming and soon he will be able to return to his fathers care.

15 June 2023:

We posted earlier that the large wound on his thigh has at long last fully closed.

The damage to Ebrimas body has been caused by an infection called osteomyelitis which really has ravaged him. The infection seemed under control and he was 'dry ' until there was a rupture at the top of his arm towards his chest wall where poison has poured out for weeks on end. Of course he has been medically reviewed, an xray was clear that the infection was NOT in his arm or shoulder. An MRI scan was done 2 weeks ago to see if the site of the infection could be found. Jackie is STILL waiting for the MRI report which has been greatly delayed due to the relevant staff being on a workshop.

Jackie has been informed, "maybe next week"

On a brighter note, just one more week and Ebrima can have his plaster cast removed which has been in place since his fibula transplant by Gam Med on 7th March this year.

Once out of plaster Ebrima will wear an Orthopeadic boot and will, at very long last, be up on 2 legs again.

1 July 2023:

TODAY MARKS A NEW CHAPTER IN EBRIMA'S LIFE.

EBRIMA HAS RETURNED TO HIS FATHER WHO IS TAKING HIM HOME WITH HIM TO BASSE TODAY.

As an organisation The GLOVE Project strongly advised against this and did all they could to facilitate the father staying in the more local area so that we could monitor Ebrima and so as he had access to health care. Jackie and Baboucar went as far as to advise the father that moving his child to Basse could have big implications for EBRIMA'S health.

At the end of the day all they can do is advise and recommend, the final decision is with Ebrimas father and as such, they are currently enrolled to the far end of the country.

Ebrima has overcome so so much, he has most certainly "beaten the odds " as it were and we wish him a continued recovery and much happiness. This is the first time Ebrima has been back under his fathers care since February 2022. 8 months in Hospital and a full 7 months at Jackie's house, it has been a long and traumatic journey for this darling little boy.

15 September 2023:

EBRIMA has been back for his outpatients appointment at Banjul Hospital travelling all the way from Basse. Unfortunately, Dr Marenah was not in clinic so he has been given another appointment for the end of September to be seen.

The team was a little disappointed that Ebrima's walking has detiorated since leaving the project house on the 1st July. Baboucar had a long chat with both Ebrima and his father reminding them how crucial it is to continue the exercises and walking practice if his mobility is to be improved.

 

30 September 2023:

EBRIMA HAS ATTENDED HIS OUTPATIENTS APPOINTMEMT TO SEE DR MARENAH.

Unfortunately, Dr Marena was not in clinic and Ebrima was reviewed by A Cuban Professor who has recently taken up post in Banjul from Farafenni. Unfortunately Xrays are showing there is a "bit of an issue" with the transplanted bone since Ebrima has returned to his home in Basse. As far as we can understand, this is not critical at the moment but as a precaution Ebrima has been asked to revert back to using 2 crutches in order to lessen the weight bearing on this leg.

The amazing Gam Med team who carried out this bone transplant are returning to the Gambia in November and will hopefully be able to review Ebrima and advise on the situation.

Baboucar spent considerable time talking to both Ebrima and his father and advising them on taking care of this leg. Ebrima was also given a good supply of nutritional drinks to supplement his diet, thanks to Mary French for donating these drinks which make such a difference.

14 November 2023:

"POOR EBRIMA. Today we received this xray of Ebrima's leg which recently underwent surgery by the Gam Med team. The xray looks as though the bone that was transplanted in March of this year has been removed although we are not Drs of course. We also know you will all have many questions such as,

"has the transplanted bone been removed"

"if so why"

"what is the surgery scheduled for 6 months time for"

"what is the prognosis for Ebrima's leg"

"would it not be much better in the long run for Ebrima to have this lower leg amputated and have a prosthetic"

"where is he going to live and who is going to care for him"

Sadly, we are not able to answer the medical questions and Jackie has messaged the Gam Med team several days ago to try to get more information so that we are better placed to offer Ebrima the most appropriate care that we can. This is with the full permission of Ebrima's father, we understand Jackie is still waiting for a reply from the Gam Med team."

24 November 2023:

EBRIMA HAS LEFT HOSPITAL AND IS NOW AT THE PROJECT HOUSE WITH JACKIE.

This little boy has gone through so much yet his smile touches your heart. He has so far to go and so many surgeries ahead of him it is just unimaginable. Yet STILL he smiles...

Once Ebrima was settled and the dogs had finished their greetings, Jackie and Baboucar say down with the father and explained everything the surgeons had said in their recent message to Jackie Church regarding Ebrima's leg and all the future treatments and surgeries that he will likely need as well as how long this will all take.

Ebrima's father apparently cried, he was so distraught to hear this news saying "How can I put my child through this, I just can't do this to him and watch him suffer over and over"

"He has already had so many operations and has suffered so much this past 2 years."

He went on to say that he "had absolutly no idea of any of this"

and that his understanding was

"that the iron has to stay on Ebrima's leg for 6 months and then a operation to take it off and all will be fine with his leg."

Ebrima's father states he is eternally grateful to The Glove Project and the care they have given and are giving, to his young son stating, "I could not have done any of this without GLOVE, I am not even sure Ebrima would have survived without your help"

Jackie and Baboucar will give Ebrima's father the support he needs and will care for Ebrima to the best of their abilities.

As well as needing 24 hours care and support Ebrima has lost a lot of weight and looks like an 8 or 9 year old child not a teenager of almost 14 years. As well as intensive medical care Ebrima also needs a high protein and high calorie diet along with heaps of TLC.


24 January 2024:

Ebrima, the little boy ravished by osteomyelitis as he was not taken for hospital treatment following a broken lower leg. He did not receive appropriate treatment for more than 6 months, likely nearer a year. He suffered the most terrible neglect followed by numerous surgeries and 8 months in hospital. His life was saved but his trauma was not finished.

Drs and surgeons have gallantly battled to save Ebrima's life and his leg including the British team Gam Med and Dr Marenah. Ebrima spent 8 months at the project house last year, he has been back there since Jackie returned on 23td November having had further surgery by Gam Med. The bone transplant that was undertaken last March had failed, several more surgeries have been planned, likely taking a good 18 plus months. Ebrima is suffering, his father is a single working parent and their home has been at the opposite side of the country where Ebrima can not receive the medical or home care that he needs. There is no extended family in Gambia, his father is a none Gambian.

There are no effective social services, child care facilities or the likes in the Gambia, what a terrible situation.

EBRIMA'S leg is infected, he is in a lot of pain and was taken to Ndemban Hospital on Monday morning where antibiotics and strong pain killers were prescribed by Dr Marenah and his team.

Yesterday, Dr Marenah met with EBRIMA'S father, Jackie and the project manager and the difficult decision was made for Ebrimas leg to be amputated.

Ebrima has suffered terrible trauma during his lengthy stays in hospital, the very nature of the damage and open wounds caused by his body being ravaged by infection making all dressing changes extremely painful. Because of this, and in order to reduce further trauma and reawakening terrible memories the decision has been taken that the amputation will take place at a private hospital. We are sure you will agree that this will be far better for Ebrimas mental health.

The surgery is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 3rd February.

02 February 2024:

A SHORT BUT SWEET MESSAGE FROM EBRIMA AS HE LEAVES TO GO TO HOSPITAL WITH Jackie Church .

TOMORROW HIS LEG WILL BE AMPUTATED.

03 February 2024:

EBRIMA IS PAIN FREE AND DOING WELL.

We can finally report that Ebrima's surgery is over and has gone well. His amputated leg has been buried by Baboucarr Sonko and Ebrima's father in line with their religious beliefs and Ebrima is wide awake, full of smiles and full of good pain killers.

05 February 2024:

EBRIMA IS RECOVERING WELL.

Jackie Church has continued to be by Ebrimas side and as you can see from the video he is up and about and doing physio.

Pain free and now taking oral pain killers he will hopefully be back at the project house tomorrow where he will receive the best possible care ..... and be spoilt a bit.

06 February 2024:

EBRIMA IS OUT OF HOSPITAL.

He has had a lot of vomiting today due to pain meds so is not his usual bright and breeze self though that will soon pass. As Ebrima himself says, a Very BIG Thankyou to Dr Marenah.

11 February 2024:

7 DAYS POST AMPUTATION.

Ebrima is doing fantastic within himself, he has no pain, is no longer requiring any pain relief, is eating well and in good spirits. Tomorrow he will be having a hair cut which he is very much looking forward to. Sadly, Ebrima had to be taken back to Hospital for an addituonal review by the wonderful Dr Marenah yesterday as his dressings were soaked and the smell was terrible. As you can see from the photo, the wound has started to reopen / breakdown. This has absolutly nothing to do with the quality of surgery nor the stitching which were of course, excellent. This is more to do with Ebrima's complex history of massive chronic osteomyelitis as well as the recent very high temperatures and humidity.

Ebrima's healing capacity is significantly compromised, we expected poor healing and no doubt this wound is going to open further and his healing will be slow. The team, along with Dr Marenah will continue to do their very best.

19 February 2023:

Sadly, Ebrima has taken a tumble on his crutches and fallen heavily onto his knees. He did not put his hands down to break his fall and as a result he has a small chip in his bone just above his knee on his amputated leg and is in a back slab and currently wheelchair bound.

There is a question mark over potential injury to his remaining leg, a possible fracture there but lateral xrays were not possible due to Ebrima's level of discomfort. These will be re attempted tomorrow. This awful accident will put Ebrimas post amputation recovery back a good 6 to 8 weeks.

Further, Dr Marenah explained that when the sutures in Ebrima's wound are removed (tomorrow) the whole area may well breakdown and this could result in a skin graft being needed to repair the area. Ebrima also needs surgery to correct his knee on his remaining leg which was ravaged by infection, nothing to do with his fall.

 

The team in Gambia are distraught at what has happened and what is happening for Ebrima. Clearly Ebrima is needing a massive amount of care and support and this is clearly going to remain the case for at least the next 2 to 3 months.

29 February 2024:

Ebrima has been reviewed By Dr Marenah this evening and he is pleased with his progress. The wound from the amputation is not pretty but, surprisingly it is not deep and is not now infected. It is definitely better than was expected. Ebrima will continue to require wound care and dressings changed every 2 days and the team has a good wound care nurse to visit the house to do this thanks to your donations.

Ebrimas leg has to remain with a back slab and he is to remain none weight bearing for a further 4 weeks when further xrays and review will take place. The high level 24 hour care for Ebrima is going to be needed for at least the next 2 months and the decision will be made at the next review regarding surgery on the knee of his remaining leg.

Despite all of this, Ebrima is back in good spirits and full of smiles.

Taking care of Ebrima and his complex needs is very demanding but Jackie Church and the team in Gambia will continue to do the very best that they can.

We'll keep you updated on Ebrima's and the other children's progress.
If you would like to send a donation to this project or specifically Ebrima, please let us know (reason for transfer). We'll make sure all these donations will reach The GLOVE Project.

 

 

ABOUT THE CHILD AMPUTEE PROGRAMME

Here in The Gambia those with disabilities are frequently marginalised, ostracised, socially isolated and many (children) are abandoned. There is no Government assistance and generally the cultural and societal belief is that these people can achieve little more than being street beggar’s.

This is the harsh reality.

The Glove Project's Juvinille Amputee Programme started in February 2019 when they came across 15yr old Dembo. Child Amputees are frequently not at school, being deemed unworthy of the expense of uniform, books, shoes etc in a Country where money is a scarce commodity. Why spend scarce resources on a child  deemed unlikely to become anything other than a street beggar.  These children are frequently neglected and hidden away.

 

 

THE PROSTHETICS

Are old and cumbersome, heavy and ugly frequently the children sizes are not available and the team have to cobble things together. Whilst these are free the sockets to fit the stump have to be molded and made to fit the individual and it is these materials which have to be paid for as well as transport to and from the prosthetic centre in Banjul.

 

 

HOW THE GLOVE PROJECT DOES THIS

"Spend time visiting the child and care givers at their home, the children are rarely with their mothers and fathers, rather  with extended family, frequently living in abject poverty.

Purchasing the fitting of a prosthetic leg and rehabilitation onto that leg.

Ensuring the child has a place at a school, funding uniform, books and all necessary equipment. At times including school feeding if under nourished which most are.

Purchasing bicycles to promote mobility and social standing. To have a bike is a considerable achievement here and quite a status symbol for a child.

The distances to school are frequently too far to walk on the old prosthetic legs that are available and without a bicycle, attending school would not be an option for most of these children.

Supplying sacks of rice which is the staple food, to the family so as the child is seen to be of some value and to promote improved nutrition.

When donations allow clothes and shoes are given.

We undertake regular home visits to monitor the child and to encourage acceptance and value by the family, promoting love and involvement by the local community.

We find and fund apprenticeships for the older children.

 

We monitor growth and fund replacement prosthetic fitting as the child outgrows their limbs. New prosthetic limbs are needed approx. every 6 to 9 month depending on growth rate. We monitor for bones growing through the amputation site and arrange and escort for Orthopeadic reviews. This may mean re amputation or trimming of the growing bones is necessary and timely intervention is required along with intensive post operation care."

Text and photos mainly by The GLOVE Project

 

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Animal Care Home Gambia Update

Finally, we were able to retrieve our parcels from the container. One is still missing. But the items for Animal Care Home Gambia have all arrived as you can see below:

Dog's photos by Animal Care Home Gambia

 

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Homeless puppies

About 1.5 months ago, we took in two male puppies (around 5 and 7 months old), that would have ended up on the streets, just like so many other dogs in the Gambia.
Of course they had mango worms, so two days ago, they got treated, dewormed and their first vaccinations. On the photos you can still see the scarring by the maggots (mango worms)
Today they'll get neutered and we'll buy the rest of the necessary vaccinations at the pharmacy to take to the vet, so they had a full service and are safe from rabies and other gruesome diseases and so they can not contribute to the overpopulation of (stray)dogs by producing puppies anymore.


Big trouble and little trouble have been called Sparta and El Chapo (not by us). 

They got their new collars and leashes (reflective for safety) and a ball. They play with it all day because it even "loses" treats - there's nothing more exciting. 



About mango flies:

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordylobia_anthropophaga

Cordylobia anthropophaga, the mango fly, tumbu fly, tumba fly, putzi fly, or skin maggot fly, is a species of blow-fly common in East and Central Africa. It is a parasite of large mammals (including humans) during its larval stage.[1] C. anthropophaga is found in the subtropics of Africa and is a common cause of myiasis in humans in the region.[2]

Female tumbu flies deposit around 300 eggs in sandy soil, often contaminated with feces. The hatched larvae can remain viable in the soil for 9–15 days, when they need to find a host to continue developing.[4] If a larva finds a host, it penetrates the skin and takes 8–12 days developing through three larval stages before it reaches the prepupal stage. It then leaves the host, drops to the ground, buries itself, and pupates. It then becomes an adult fly able to reproduce and begin the cycle all over again.[5]


Trigger Warning!

If you can stomach it, there's a video of the larvae (example): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt_erMDrzcw

 

About 1.5 months ago, when they'd just moved in:

 

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Container Update and project news

 

The container with our donations has finally arrived. After a lap of honour via Las Palmas, Spain. Rumor has it, that there was another ship docking already, that had to be unloaded and there was no capacity for our ship. Whatever the reason was, there was a delay of almost 2 weeks. Now the red tape has to be dealt with and then we should be able to retrieve our parcels.

Animal Care Home Gambia needs their pens and cages very badly, since there had been a recent influx of stray mothers with puppies. They were all in bad conditions and needed medical treatment (flesh fly maggot wounds, that are very dangerous, mango worms, wounds, malnutrion) and a safe environment to decompress and recover.
Unfortunately, some of the puppies have tetanus and die one after the other, as some cruel person had cut off their wee tails before they were being rescued. It is absolutely devastating to watch, as there is almost no chance to save them. Their bodies become rigid, they can not eat, they suffocate, as their chests are cramping, it also leads to heart failure... (photos of these puppies below)

You see, how important that organization's work is for animals, that don't have any help otherwise.

Have a look at their work there: https://www.facebook.com/HappyAnimalsHappyPeople

 

Dogs' photos by Animal Care Home Gambia

 

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Child Amputee Programme

This year we are also supporting The GLOVE Project's child amputee programme

https://www.gloveproject.life/child-amputees

The profit from the Christmas card sale is mainly going to this project.

I'll update more detailed soon.

 

 

ABOUT THE CHILD AMPUTEE PROGRAMME

Here in The Gambia those with disabilities are frequently marginalised, ostracised, socially isolated and many (children) are abandoned. There is no Government assistance and generally the cultural and societal belief is that these people can achieve little more than being street beggar’s.

This is the harsh reality.

The Glove Project's Juvinille Amputee Programme started in February 2019 when they came across 15yr old Dembo. Child Amputees are frequently not at school, being deemed unworthy of the expense of uniform, books, shoes etc in a Country where money is a scarce commodity. Why spend scarce resources on a child  deemed unlikely to become anything other than a street beggar.  These children are frequently neglected and hidden away.

 

 

THE PROSTHETICS

Are old and cumbersome, heavy and ugly frequently the children sizes are not available and the team have to cobble things together. Whilst these are free the sockets to fit the stump have to be molded and made to fit the individual and it is these materials which have to be paid for as well as transport to and from the prosthetic centre in Banjul.

 

 

HOW THE GLOVE PROJECT DOES THIS

"Spend time visiting the child and care givers at their home, the children are rarely with their mothers and fathers, rather  with extended family, frequently living in abject poverty.

Purchasing the fitting of a prosthetic leg and rehabilitation onto that leg.

Ensuring the child has a place at a school, funding uniform, books and all necessary equipment. At times including school feeding if under nourished which most are.

Purchasing bicycles to promote mobility and social standing. To have a bike is a considerable achievement here and quite a status symbol for a child.

The distances to school are frequently too far to walk on the old prosthetic legs that are available and without a bicycle, attending school would not be an option for most of these children.

Supplying sacks of rice which is the staple food, to the family so as the child is seen to be of some value and to promote improved nutrition.

When donations allow clothes and shoes are given.

We undertake regular home visits to monitor the child and to encourage acceptance and value by the family, promoting love and involvement by the local community.

We find and fund apprenticeships for the older children.

We monitor growth and fund replacement prosthetic fitting as the child outgrows their limbs. New prosthetic limbs are needed approx. every 6 to 9 month depending on growth rate. We monitor for bones growing through the amputation site and arrange and escort for Orthopeadic reviews. This may mean re amputation or trimming of the growing bones is necessary and timely intervention is required along with intensive post operation care."

Photos by The GLOVE Project

 

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Donations in kind going to The Gambia

 

Today, we loaded some parcels in a container going to The Gambia.
This time, we also support a little organization, called "Animal Care Home Gambia", that is helping cats and dogs.
They take in injured, homeless and orphaned pets and are in urgent need of kennels and pens for their patients. These are not easily available in The Gambia, that's why we send them. We also added some wound desinfectant, cat and dog toys and other little surprises.

Have a look at their work there: https://www.facebook.com/HappyAnimalsHappyPeople

If you want to support them, please let us know. They are always in need of pet and medical supplies.

We also added 3 big boxes of clothings and other necessities for families again.
The container will be on the way by 02 January 2024.

 

 

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Corporate Christmas Cards 2023

Central National Europe purchased 500 custom-made Christmas cards.

The money will contribute to various projects, that are still in need of funding.
We'll also send some urgently needed things in a container before Christmas.
More info soon.

 

This year I decided to stick with the woodland animal theme again and draw a wild female brown bear, that I met in the Slovenian forests last September.

 

 

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Yet another storm in the Gambia

In the night of 12 to 13 July 2023 The Gambia heavy rains and strong winds have caused quite a lot of damage again. Even our little car got damaged by a citrus tree, that had fallen and broken a window. (FYI: No donations are being used to repair this damage)
But of course, other neighbors were more seriously affected.


Amadou's house lost large parts of the roof and had to be repaired as soon as possible, as more rainfall was to be expected very soon.

We were able to supply beams and covered the costs for a new corrugated metal sheets to replace the damaged parts of the roof.

Luckily, during the weekend friends came together and managed to finish the repair job.

  

Many thanks to the donors who made this quick help possible.

 

 

 

Please consider donating.

 

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

 

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GAMBIAid Computer Class

 

We started a computer school as it improves (job) prospects and adds valuable abilities to people's CV.

The majority of Gambians doesn't have access to this kind of education, despite being a key skill nowadays.

 

The course takes 3 months and, of course, we also focus on educating especially young women.
We are employing a professional teacher and are renting a classroom, so the students are receiving the best possible training in an appropiate setting.

 

Please donate:

 

The purpose can be determined, otherwise the donation will be used for the most recent project.

Bank account of GAMBIAid:

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

 

 

Please support our work!

 

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Update 3: Bansang Water Well Project

The constructions for the Muritani well in Bansang are making progress.
Tiles have been laid and spilled water will be drained properly.

The tab area is way more hygienic like this.

 

 

 

Please donate:

 

The purpose can be determined, otherwise the donation will be used for the most recent project.

Bank account of GAMBIAid:

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

 

 

Please support our work!

 

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Update 12: Construction Site - Catastrophe in Gambia

We were finally able to finish the roof. Originally, there was temporarily not enough and only poor covering material (rusty or just plastic without any proper weather protection). We were able to order something better at short notice and replace the old one, which was converted into a garden fence without further ado.

 

The family moved in immediately, even though there aren't even any beds inside. Currently, the mother sleeps on a mattress, the children on mats. But they are happy about the privacy and all the space, they are incredibly proud and happy.

 

Next, windows have to be installed because it gets very hot inside and the temporary corrugated iron shutters have to be closed, especially at night, for security reasons.

A few pieces of furniture, especially beds would be great and maybe an outside toilet, ideally for the neighborhood so that more people can benefit from it.

 

 

We have to be careful, because our support has unfortunately also caused a lot of envy.

 

Although we tried to keep our names and organization anonymous in the neighborhood so that we don't have any problems privately, the info leaked and unfortunately led to some rather unpleasant hostilities.

The family itself - especially the widow - was partly put under pressure to remarry quickly and to sell the house, since one could use the money much better for one's own purposes, etc.

 

But she has remained steadfast and would like to stay independent and self-determined, of course keep the house and not get married anytime soon, contrary to any traditions.

 

 

We don't let that stop us from doing our work either and we still try to help as many people as possible. Some just don't want to understand that we can't help everyone and that this money comes from donations and that we are not millionaires.

 

But of course the gratitude prevails. Unfortunately, envy can be found anywhere.

 

 

 

We are very grateful for the great support from all sides.

 

 

 

Please consider donating.

Reason: storm victim

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

 

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Update 2: Bansang Water Well Project

The constructions for the Muritani well in Bansang have already begun.
The water tank height got increased, piping will be added soon, bricks are being laid...

 

 

 

Please donate:

 

The purpose can be determined, otherwise the donation will be used for the most recent project.

Bank account of GAMBIAid:

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

 

 

Please support our work!

 

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Update 1: Bansang Water Well Project

 

Construction for the well updating in Bansang has already begun.

 

 

 

 

Please donate:

 

The purpose can be determined, otherwise the donation will be used for the most recent project.

Bank account of GAMBIAid:

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

 

 

Please support our work!

 

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Bansang Water Well Project

One of the water wells in Bansang is in dire need of updating. Defects and diseases are imminent.

The area around the taps has to be tiled so it can be kept clean and people don't have to wade trough mud and dirt. Especially during rainy season (flooding and severe storms) there is a high risk that the well will be damaged.

It must therefore be fixed and optimized accordingly. The piping from the water tank also needs to be improved and protected.

 

We are very grateful for the great support from all sides.

Many thanks to the donors who support our projects.

We still need your help please.

 

 

Please donate:

 

 

Purpose can be determined, otherwise the donation will be used for the most recent project.

Bank account of GAMBIAid:

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

 

 

Please support our work!

 

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Corporate Christmas Cards 2022

Central National Europe purchased 572 custom-made Christmas cards.

The money will contribute to various projects, that are still in need of funding, such as the destroyed house.

 

This year I decided to stick with the woodland animal theme again and draw some sika deer looking at the company's logo.

 

 

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Laptop bags for the teachers of the Future Leaders Academy in Lamin

The teachers were very happy about the donated laptop bags. In future it will be easier for them to carry their papers and class materials.

 

 

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Wheelchairs and mattresses against pressure ulcers

We handed over the wheelchairs and anti-decubitus mattresses to Caring 4 Mobility The Gambia.

They provide medical equipment for (temporarily) disabled people in The Gambia. They also ensure that the equipment provided meets the physical needs of the patients as much as possible.

Here is more info: https://www.caring4mobility.com/

If you have walking aids, wheelchairs, etc. and no longer need them, you are more than welcome to donate them to us.

They are urgently needed in Gambia.

 

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School material for the Future Leaders Academy in Lamin

The school principal of the Future Leaders Academy of Education Excellence, in Lamin singing with the students.

 

 

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Distribution of school materials

During our stay in Gambia, we visited a newly founded school, the Future Leaders Academy of Education Excellence, in Lamin and brought your donated school material there.

Everyone was overjoyed, most things were distributed evenly among the students. Other things will be used during lessons in school.


I'll add some videos soon.

 

 

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Update 11: Construction Site - Catastrophe in Gambia

Our volunteers are working in their spare time, so mainly on weekends. Last Sunday they didn't have time to continue. But we went to the construction site ourselves and checked the progress.
They are planning to resume work next weekend. Building material is already in the storage and waiting to be made use of.
Soon the preparations for the roof structure will be started.

We are very grateful for everyone's support.

 

Building a houses is not cheap, even in Gambia.

We still need your support, please.

 

Please consider donating.

Reason: storm victim

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

Please support us in our work.

 

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Corporate Christmas Cards

Central National Europe purchased 500 custom-made Christmas cards.

The money is going to contribute to the building of the house that got destroyed in this year's windstorm, which also killed the family's father and left the mother and children homeless. (See news updates on our homepage)

 

 I painted all 7 foxes in water color and assembled them so it looks like they are interacting with the company's products.

 

 

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Update 10: Construction Site - Catastrophe in Gambia

Our volunteers are working in their spare time, so mainly on weekends.
This is how we are able to save costs for workers and the donations can go exclusively into purchasing of materials. 
We are very grateful for everyone's support.

 

Building a houses is not cheap, even in Gambia.

We still need your support, please.

 

Please consider donating.

Reason: storm victim

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

Please support us in our work.

 

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Update 9: Construction Site - Catastrophe in Gambia

Video of how the actual construction started.

 

 

Building a houses is not cheap, even in Gambia.

We still need your support, please.

 

Please consider donating.

Reason: storm victim

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

Please support us in our work.

 

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Update 8: Construction Site - Catastrophe in Gambia

Part of the walls have been erected already.
The house is going to have 3 rooms.
Don't let the construction technique confuse you. There is a foundation beneath the walls, made of reinforcing bars and concrete. The concrete floor will be added later on.

 

 

Building a houses is not cheap, even in Gambia.

We still need your support, please.

 

Please consider donating.

Reason: storm victim

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

Please support us in our work.

 

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Update 7: Construction Site - Catastrophe in Gambia

 

Rainy season is finally over.
We had some more sand delivered for the construction of the foundation.
Currently things are a bit slow due to the lack of volunteers helping to rebuild. We hope to find more workers asap. 

 

 

Building a houses is not cheap, even in Gambia.

We still need your support, please.

 

Please consider donating.

Reason: storm victim

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

Please support us in our work.

 

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Container arrived

After 4 months, our container has finally arrived in The Gambia and we were able to clear it from the port and transport everything to our storage, until we're there in person and able to distribute everything to the families needing them badly. Only certain items will be distributed earlier by our local contacts/members at our disposition.
Nothing seems to be missing or damaged, only the packaging suffered a bit. But we'll see once we arrive in The Gambia next time. Unfortunately, (due to the new government and its regulations) we had to pay customs and transport this time, so I hope to sell many Christmas cards this year to cover the costs.

 

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Update 6: Construction Site - Catastrophe in Gambia

Due to the almost permanently bad weather (rainy season), it is not  easy to make progress on the construction site. 

 

The Gambia was hit by another storm last Friday around 11.30 p.m.

 

A woman in the neighborhood was hit in the face by a flying debris (allegedly an iron gate) and got killed.

 

The storm also destroyed the maternity ward of Fass Njaga Choi. It had been built by the VDC and a charity called HELPING CHARITY.

At the time of the storm, there were 2 women in the station. One birth went smoothly and the mother and child could be discharged, but the other had to be relocated because the roof was leaking heavily. Rainwater poured from a the cardboard ceiling panels onto the beds and the entire floor of the ward.

The ward serves the catchment of 19 neighboring villages, so the roof has to be repaired asap - just like so many other buildings.

 

The neighbor who took the widow and her children in now also has (partly) no roof - see photos.

 

Some good news at the end: Another neighbor donated 5 bags of cement to the family to help rebuilding their house.

 

 

 

Building a houses is not cheap, even in Gambia.

We still need your support, please.

 

Please consider donating.

Reason: storm victim

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

Please support us in our work.

 

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Update 5: Construction Site Progress - Catastrophe in Gambia

 

Thanks to your donations we were able to start already:

 

Construction started July 26, 2021.

Due to heavy rainfall partly with local flooding, it is not possible to work continuously.

Bricks are currently still being produced by hand.

Here some current photos again.

 

 

 

 

Building a houses is not cheap, even in Gambia.
We still need your support, please.

 

Please consider donating.

Reason: storm victim

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

Please support us in our work.

 

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Update 4: Construction Site Progress - Catastrophe in Gambia

 

Thanks to your donations we were able to start already:

 

Construction started last Monday.

Due to heavy rainfall partly with local flooding, it is not possible to work continuously.

Bricks are currently still being produced by hand.

Here are two photos from Sunday.

 

 

 

 

Building a houses is not cheap, even in Gambia.
We still need your support, please.

 

Please consider donating.

Reason: storm victim

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

Please support us in our work.

 

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Container - current position

 

Our container is already on a container ship near the coast of West Africa, after being reloaded in Las Palmas.

The current position of MSC SANTHYA is at West Africa (coordinates 13.9211 N / 17.41457 W) reported 27 hours ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Conakry, Guinea, sailing at a speed of 14.4 knots and expected to arrive there on Aug 3, 15:00.

 

The vessel MSC SANTHYA (IMO: 8913411, MMSI 355363000) is a Container Ship built in 1991 (30 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Panama.

Let's hope, everything will go smoothly, as there have been reports of a broken loading crane at the port of Banjul.

Photo credit: miranda reiffers te loo

 

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Update 3: Construction Site Progress - Catastrophe in Gambia

 

Thanks to your donations we were able to start already:

 

Construction started yesterday.

With the first batch of sand and cement, some bricks were made by hand in a special mold. They now have to dry before they can be used for construction. In the meantime, the remains of the old house can be torn down and other necessary work can be started.

The on-site helpers worked for hours with great enthusiasm.

 

 

Building a houses is not cheap, even in Gambia.
We still need your support, please.

 

Please consider donating.

Reason: storm victim

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

Please support us in our work.

 

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Update 2: Urgent appeal: Catastrophe in Gambia

 

Thanks to your donations we were able to start already:

 

The first load of sand, steel and cement arrived yesterday. As we don't want anything to be stolen, everything (except for the sand) is stored with the neighbor.

There was an appeal to the neighborhood for as many people as possible to come and help with the construction work. Start of construction is planned for today.

We'll keep you in the loop.

 

 

Building a houses is not cheap, even in Gambia.
We still need your support, please.

 

Please consider donating.

Reason: storm victim

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

Please support us in our work.

 

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Update: Urgent appeal: Catastrophe in Gambia

This is the house of the family of a friend of ours. As you can see it got completely destroyed. They also lost their father that night. They are faced with ruin.

 

________________

 Update:

We talked to the widow, Fatou. D., and the neighbor, who took the homeless family in.

Her husband had saved the children first and was finally trying to leave the house with his wife. That's when the house collapsed. His legs were totally smashed by the rubble and his blood loss was too severe to save him. His wife also had a massive piece of the wall on her chest and couldn't move. Only the children were able to run to the neighbors and call for help. And as we've already told you, nobody had heard them.

Fatou's injuries got treated, but she also had a serious shock after the disaster.
Currently, they are staying with a neighbor, who told us, that he didn't know what to do. Nobody was helping so far and the family had nowhere to go. And this wasn't about to change in the near future, so they were stuck in their situation.

They were so mind-blown and relieved when we told them, that we'd help them rebuild the house by means of your donations.
The neighbor said, he'll organize people to work on the construction site. We'll send the material. This time the house will be built with cement bricks, since the mud houses are not solid and safe.

Also, there will be video/photo updates of the progress.

Meanwhile, I send you the sincere thanks from the widow, the children and the neighbor.

 

 

Building a houses is not cheap, even in Gambia.
We still need your support, please.

 

Please consider donating.

Reason: storm victim

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

Please support us in our work.

 

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Urgent appeal: Catastrophe in Gambia

This is the house of the family of a friend of ours. As you can see it got completely destroyed. They also lost their father that night. They are faced with ruin.

 

________________

 

Full story:

 

An overnight windstorm in Gambia has killed more than 10 people, the National Disaster Management Agency said Thursday.

 

“The North Bank [Region] was hard hit...We recorded a minimum of deaths [there] and at least one in the West Coast Region,” the agency’s executive director, Sanna Dahaba, told reporters. (Stats from Thursday morning, meanwhile there are more victims)

 

The storm began late Wednesday evening, affecting at least 3,140 people and internally displacing 1,531.

- - - - - - - - - -

Our friend's family home was destroyed in the storm in the middle of the night. The father took his wife and children outside in an attempt to evacuate them, when a large part of the house fell on him. His wife and the children could not free him. So they ran to the neighboring houses, banging on the doors and calling for help. But since the storm was so loud and everyone inside sought shelter and hid, the neighbors believed that the noise was the storm. The family spent the whole night crying and unprotected next to the injured father. It wasn't until the next morning that the neighbors found them and called for help. The father was transported to one of the main clinics in the capital Banjul because of the seriousness of his injuries.

 

Tragically, our friend's father, who was buried by rubble from his house on the night of the storm, could not be rescued in the hospital and died from his injuries.

 

We want to help the family.

Perhaps there are a few among you who would like to support?

 

Please consider donating.

Reason: storm victim

 

DONATION ACCOUNT of GAMBIAid

IBAN: AT 31 3209 2000 0281 1289

BIC: RLNWATWWGAE

 

Please support us in our work.

 

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Container

 

Finally, we're done loading our next container.
It took us a couple of days to sort, label, transport and store everything.
The loading list contains various things, from first aid materials, to school materials, toys, waterpump, irrigation, sewing machines, household articles, furniture, lighting protection, copy machines, computers, printers, various bags (office/laptop, school etc.), clothing, wheelchairs, mattresses for bedridden, child's bicycle, desks etc.

 

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Wall paint, pallet truck, pots, dishes, cutlery etc.

Thank you very much to

Mr. Fritz Bugkel/ Bugkel GmbH  for donating a lot of nontoxic wall paint, mixing colors, a pallet truck, pots, dishes, cutlery, a toaster etc. And for transporting all the donations including the sewing machines and bike to our storage.
Your support is highly appreciated!

 

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School material donations

Tanja Gutenthaler sent a leather satchel, scissors, pencils etc.


Thank you very much!

 

GAMBIAid is a partner of stifte-stiften.de

Please keep collecting, the donations are going to make many children happy!

Austrian donors: Please feel free to send your collected items directly to us (not via Germany). Do not hesitate to contact us.
We are mainly collecting colored crayons, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, ruler, pencil cases, schoolbags.

Please do not send ballpoint pens, felt tip pens and other pens that are either empty quickly or dry out easily. We don't want to litter and there is no proper waste management in The Gambia. Thanks

 

 

 

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Donation to a young widow and her children

In cooperation with Goal for the Gambia, we were able to support a young widow and her children with 50 kg of rice.

 

A neighbor of one of Goal for the Gambia's caseworkers recently passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly, "... a relatively young Mam with a young family who are left devastated and fearful of the future without him. 

It was inappropriate to take a photo as she was extremely tearful but very grateful.  She is at a complete loss to know how she will manage after the sudden death of her husband and receiving this rice made her a little more at ease knowing she could feed her family.   The case worker who knows her is keeping an eye on her and trying himself , along with other neighbours to get her through these very dark times. "

 

Thank you very much for the donation, Helga Metzler!

 

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The Gambia Horse & Donkey Trust

There is always a way to support charities. Since the donations we receive are very little and earmarked, I decided to paint a picture for the Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust in order to support their projects. It can eg. be used for Christmas cards, be printed, auctioned... to raise money.

 

 

We are also still looking for bridles/snaffle bits (jointed or straight), small headcollars and other horse gear (donkey/cob size) in mint condition; max. 4-4.5 inches (10-11.5 cm), salt licks, dog crates medium or large size etc.


 

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Sewing machines & child's bicyle

Thank you very much to

DI Pia Anna Buxbaum for donating 2 industrial sewing machines including matching tables. One can be powered alternatively through a motor or a foot pedal, the other one with a pedal. They are ideal for areas without (reliable) power supply. These sewing machines can possibly generate at least 2 incomes and therefore provide for 2 families. The child's bicyle is ideal for eg. riding to school (there are no school busses).

 

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Donations in kind

Thank you very much for a small TV, a cell phone for seniors and headphones. We will likely give both to either an elderly or handicapped person.

 

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GAMBIAid on Amazon Smile

GAMBIAid is now registered at smile.amazon.de
You can support us while shopping on Amazon.de without even spending extra money.

 

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Company Christmas Cards

Central National Europe purchased 600 custom-made Christmas cards.

With this money we are able to cover some of our expenses for the storage, which unfortunately is not free anymore.

 

 

 

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Christmas Cards

For this year's Christmas cards I painted a reindeer. You can see the finished cards on our homepage very soon.

 

 

 

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School material donations

Margrit Windisch sent a parcel containing pens, pencils, exercise books etc.


Thank you very much!

 

GAMBIAid is a partner of stifte-stiften.de

Please keep collecting, the donations are going to make many children happy!

Austrian donors: Please feel free to send your collected items directly to us (not via Germany). Do not hesitate to contact us.
We are mainly collecting colored crayons, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, ruler, pencil cases, schoolbags.

Please do not send ballpoint pens, felt tip pens and other pens that are either empty quickly or dry out easily. We don't want to litter and there is no proper waste management in The Gambia. Thanks

 

 

 

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School material donations

Elisabeth Klammer sent a parcel containing pens, scissors, rulers  etc.


Thank you very much!

 

GAMBIAid is a partner of stifte-stiften.de

Please keep collecting, the donations are going to make many children happy!

Austrian donors: Please feel free to send your collected items directly to us (not via Germany). Do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

 

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Solar Water Pump

Here is another example of why local water supply is so important. Due to the shorter distances, actions like that could be prevented, since the route can be covered quite effortlessly several times with less load.
I have to mention, that this accident is an extreme example and luckily more of an isolated case. Animal owners are usually interested in the well-being of their animals and can also get help from organizations such as The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust if necessary. But relieving people and animals through a regional water supply would definitely help tremendously.

The accident happened in neighboring Senegal near Touba. The car driver and his fellow passengers helped. He comments on this, among other things, with the coachman killing the donkey like that and that this is not normal. Hopefully, the cart driver learned something from it.

Please support our project "Maintenance-free solar water pump"

 

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School project in Germany

A few weeks ago we were contacted by Valerie and Elias, students at the Oesede secondary school in Georgsmarienhütte, Germany.
They wanted to present our organization and our water project in the course of a geography project.

Here is the result of their efforts, which they can be very proud of: https://everyone-needs-water.jimdosite.com/


They even produced a video: https://youtu.be/p_LRUJDVQvo

Thank you very much for your support and the effort!

 

(Foto: https://gymnasium-oesede.de)

 

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Donations to families

In cooperation with Goal for the Gambia, we were able to support two families with 50 kg rice each.
Thank you very much for the donation, Helga Metzler!

 

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Transport to Gambia

When we heard the news, that boarders had opened for goods trafic, we decided to send a part of our private donations to The Gambia.

Unfortunately, we cannot send a Container, because we have to be in Gambia for its arrival, so we can distribute and use the donations accordingly.

So, we sent a VW 70 D van, that we had bought ourselves and put some beds and mattresses inside.

The car will be used as Commercial car (taxi). It is going to Support a Family, whose father (=provider) had died. One of the sons is old enough to drive it.

The beds and mattresses are to large and of low value to be stolen on the long way to The Gambia, that's why we decided to put them inside the van.

 

Meanwhile, the car had been loaded and is on the way to Antwerp.

 

We also sent a pressure washer (privately financed as well), separately. Times are dire, but at least it's enabling to establish a car wash, which will again contribute to a family's income.

 

As I already mentioned, all this was privately financed.

All the other donations are still waiting for a Transport after travel restrictions are lifted.

 

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Donations - Solar Water Pump

Update on solar fountain fundraising.
After some problems with the German donation platform betterplace.org, we ask for donations directly to our donation account.


Very brief summary of the events:

Since betterplace.org is, as already mentioned, is a German platform, we had great difficulties getting the collected donations paid out, which had been always easy before, but suddenly was no longer possible. In addition, our fundraising presence on the betterplace homepage was blocked.
In Germany it is relatively easy to receive a donation favor notification. In Austria you have to have an auditor (costs per year at least EUR 5,000.00) check the books of our non-profit, submit this to the tax office and then after a long wait you will get this notification. Our small association does not have these financial means and we still stand behind our statement that 100% of all donations should go to projects in The Gambia.

After some back and forth I was able to get a certificate of our non-profit status from the tax office (waiting period more than 7 months) by showing all the required information.

Fortunately, betterplace acknowledged it and after 2 further months the remaining amount, unfortunately minus processing and bank charges, was transferred to our donation account.
(Direct transfer would also be better because no platform can deduct any intrests)

When the donation chaos finally came to an end, Corona "happened" and unfortunately there are further delays. We cannot send a container as planned or travel to the Gambia and build the well. However, the plan is still in place and is being implemented reliably. We hope that our means will suffice because on the one hand, the donation goal has still not been reached and on the other hand, we also have storage costs that accumulate due to the many delays. However, these costs are not covered by donations intended for the well, but by separate income. Donations for the water pump will only be used for this purpose! We hope that we can hold out financially in the meantime.
We still lack almost EUR 1,700.00 for the tower construction, which we could not collect due to the blocking of the platform.

We very much hope that there will be positive reports again soon. Until then, we are grateful for any donation for the implementation of the project.


Many thanks to everyone!

 

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School material donations

Barbara Hassler sent a parcel containing pens, pencils, crayons etc.


Thank you very much!

 

GAMBIAid is a partner of stifte-stiften.de

Please keep collecting, the donations are going to make many children happy!

Austrian donors: Please feel free to send your collected items directly to us (not via Germany). Do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

 

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Company Christmas Cards

Central National Europe purchased 440 custom-made Christmas cards.

With this money we are able to cover some of our expenses for the storage, which unfortunately is not free anymore.

 

 

 

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School material donations

Barbara Nemecek sent a parcel containing pens, pencils, crayons etc.


Thank you very much!

 

GAMBIAid is a partner of stifte-stiften.de

Please keep collecting, the donations are going to make many children happy!

Austrian donors: Please feel free to send your collected items directly to us (not via Germany). Do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

 

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Transport of donations

Today, we had a major transport of various donations to our storage:


Central National Europe donated several desks, computers and screens in mint condition, plus the transport (special thanks to Josef!)

 
Thomas Cook, even though having other serious problems, still thought of us. After clearing their office, they sent us many boxes of office material and gym bags etc.

Thank you very much, everybody!

 

 

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School material donations

A parcel from Stefanie Anna arrived, containing pens, pencils, crayons etc.
Thank you very much!

 

GAMBIAid is a partner of stifte-stiften.de

Please keep collecting, the donations are going to make many children happy!

Austrian donors: Please feel free to send your collected items directly to us (not via Germany). Do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

 

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Donations by "Farbengarten" elementary school

We received several parcels containing lots of school material from the "Farbengarten" elementary school in Allhartsberg, Lower Austria.

Thank you very much!

 

GAMBIAid is a partner of stifte-stiften.de

Please keep collecting, the donations are going to make many children happy!

Austrian donors: Please feel free to send your collected items directly to us (not via Germany). Do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

 

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Some more school supplies

Another parcel containing pens, pencils, crayons etc. arrived. Unfortunatly, the sender is unknown.
Thank you very much!

 

GAMBIAid is a partner of stifte-stiften.de

Please keep collecting, the donations are going to make many children happy!

Austrian donors: Please feel free to send your collected items directly to us (not via Germany). Do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

 

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Crayons for Mozambique

In April, we received a major donation of crayons, pencils, sharpeners and erasers from Stifte stiften.


Why did we only ask for this kind of school supplies?
On the one hand, it means less waste, when being used. Felt pens, ballpoint pens etc. are being randomly disposed of somewhere (in the bush), when empty or dried out. On the other hand, this time the school material went to a very different destination than Gambia:
 
Part of this Stifte Stiften delivery went to Mozambique, to surprise a local primary school.
Since we couldn't send a container, I was limited to flight baggage. But of course, even these couple of kilos of school material was better than nothing. I also tried to show other travellers, that they can also make a difference how ever small the contribution. So, I hope I could encourage others to help as well in future.

 

The principal in Ponta d'Ouro (Ponta do Ouro), Mozambique, also hoped for future support. But unfortunately, we have to focus on our projects and areas in Gambia. I told him, that I'll encourage other travellers to take materials with them.

The school's name is Escola Primária Completa Ponta d'Ouro, a primary/elementary school, but also attended by up to 13-year-olds. There are more than 1000 students and because of limited capacities (space, teachers, means) it is operated in two shifts.
They teach Portuguese, of course, but among many other subjects, also English as foreign language.

The principal is very grateful and happy about the donations and expresses his heartfelt thanks to all donors of Stifte stiften.

The rest of the Stifte stiften delivery goes in our next container to Gambia, as usual.

 

 

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Donations of school supplies

Leonie Rudelsdorfer sent us a parcel containinga pencil case, pens, pencils, crayons etc.
Thank you very much!

 

GAMBIAid is a partner of stifte-stiften.de

Please keep collecting, the donations are going to make many children happy!

Austrian donors: Please feel free to send your collected items directly to us (not via Germany). Do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

 

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Donation of printers by Ricoh

We received some more printers (as good as new) by Ricoh, including a colour multifunction printer. Today a truck company delivered them to our storage at no charge.
Thank you very much also to Mr. Machowetz for the great organization and support!

 

 

 

 

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Donations of school supplies

Susanne Unterkofler sent us a parcel containing a beautiful schoolbag and several pencil cases with pens, pencils, crayons etc.
Thank you very much!

 

GAMBIAid is a partner of stifte-stiften.de

Please keep collecting, the donations are going to make many children happy!

Austrian donors: Please feel free to send your collected items directly to us (not via Germany). Do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

 

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Donation of clothing and shoes

Sandra Ramharter brought several big boxes with clothing and shoes. She's very dedicated and supports us in many areas.
Thank you very much!

 

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Company Christmas Cards

Central National Europe purchased 612 custom-made Christmas cards.

With this money we are able to cover our expenses for our new storage, which unfortunately is not free anymore.

 

 

 

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Donation by EET Austria

We received a parcel with craft and school supplies from EET Austria. Unfortunately, we couldn't find any sender's name.

 

 

Thank you very much!

We are the Austrian partner of "Stifte stiften" Germany.
http://stifte-stiften.de/gambia-stifte-ueberwinden-grenzen/

http://stifte-stiften.de/reiseexperten-schicken-stifte-geschaeftsreise/

 

 

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Donation by Thomas Cook Austria

We received 300 ball pens from the travel agency Thomas Cook.

 

 

Thank you very much!

We are the Austrian partner of "Stifte stiften" Germany.
http://stifte-stiften.de/gambia-stifte-ueberwinden-grenzen/

http://stifte-stiften.de/reiseexperten-schicken-stifte-geschaeftsreise/

 

 

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Company Christmas Cards

Central National Europe purchased 765 custom-made Christmas cards. I designed them according to their corporate identity (colors, logo etc.).

With this money we are able to cover our expenses for much-needed items like printer cartidges, first aid materials, lighting systems, transportation costs etc.

 

 

 

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Crayons Donation

Today, we received a box full of crayons from Brigitte Taschner for the kids in Gambia.

 

Thank you very much!

We are the Austrian partner of "Stifte stiften" Germany.
http://stifte-stiften.de/gambia-stifte-ueberwinden-grenzen/

 

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News from Gambia

One of our association members is currently in Gambia in order to take some donations in kind along (medicine, clothing and other materials)  and to push some of our projects:

 

Our privately financed building project has to be continued.

 

We have to find a  company for the construction of the tower carrying the solar panels of the water pump.

 

Principal Momodou Kanyi has also received the construction plans in order to contact possible companies and to discuss everything with the elders, the chief(s)/mayors and the villagers of Wassu. He also got two urgently needed printer cartidges.

 

At the moment Momodou is recovering from a difficult stomach surgery. He lost 18 kg and is barely recognizable. We hope, he'll get well soon.


We'd also like to thank our sponsor Brussels Airlines for granting a Humanitarian Fare Ticket!

 

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100 % funded!!!

Today we received a donation of

EUR 1620.00

from a complete stranger, who believes in our project.

 

Thank you so much, Anita H. from Switzerland!

 

 

This means, one maintenance-free solar waterpump is fully funded!

 

Next steps are getting in touch with the producer of the water pumps, funding the tower structure and tanks, and finding a sponsor for a container.

 

 I'll keep you in the loop.

 

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Plant Market for the good Cause

This year we organized a little market selling home-grown, partly exotic plants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had various plants from banana, pineapple, ginger to sunchoke, bloody dock, tomatoes etc.

 

Altogether we raised EUR 222.00!

 

As you can see on my photos below, the exotic plants such as banana and pineapple can yield fruit in Austria as well.

 

Just to remind you, what we are collecting donations for:

https://www.gambiaid.com/english/donate/

 

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Christoph Rombach's visit to Wassu

Christoph Rombach has meanwhile also passed through The Gambia and stopped by at the Niani Schools to visit principal Momodou Kanyi.

See link below.

 https://radelnfuerraeder.wordpress.com/2016/12/03/the-gambia/

 

Some impressions:
 

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 Principal Momodou Kanyi, Christoph Rombach and his travel companions.

 

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Example of the assembling of a maintenance-free solar waterpump by Pumpmakers

Pumpmakers has recently assembled one of their waterpumps in Ndoki in Cameroon.

This is what it could look like in Wassu, Gambia as well.

Please support us with a donation!

 

Photos by Pumpmakers.com

 

 

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Donations: wheel chairs, equipment for bed-ridden people, clothing, shoes... and a stowaway.

Last weekend we received three wheel chairs and equipment for bed-ridden people from Pauline Ostermuenchner and various clothing + shoes (includig some thick clothing ans shoes for Juma, in case it is possible for him to be treated in Europe) from the Punzet family.

 

Thank you very much!


While loading the car, we had a little stowaway that boarded, when we were not looking. Fortunately I heard a tiny noise coming from underneath all the things, when I found this young cat getting ready for a nap on a bag.

 

 

 

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Laptop from netit for a handicapped student

Ibrahim Bah had suffered from meningitis when he was 10 years old. The disease affected his eyes and ears. He is still attending a normal school and has always been among the best 5 students in his class.
His commitment should be supported and rewarded.

To faciliate his studying we sent him a second hand laptop sponsored by netit.
And as you can see on the photos, he is already using it at school.
He and his family would like to thank the generous donor.

 

 

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Donations in kind from FMS Logistics

We received 2 europallets (22 boxes) briefcases/199 pieces and two cardboard boxes with: worldmaps (rolls), 42 worldmaps (loose), 36 pen sets and 15 model trucks from FMS.

 

Thank you very much!

 

(Photos coming soon)

 

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Some more work stations, screens etc.

We received 7 workstations, screens, a server etc. from CNE.

Thank you very much!

 

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IKEA solar powered desk lamps - Report

In our last container we sent 85 IKEA solar powered desk lamps.

The children use them every evening for studying  and they help the families a lot in their everyday life.

 

Because of these lamps, each family could safe 50 Dalasi (about 1 Euro) a week, that they'd spent for candles before. Over a period of now 1 1/2 years, that's quite a lot of money for them.
Plus, these lamps reduced the fire hazard.

They say, that the desk lamps made their lives a lot easier.

 

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"Pumpmakers" supports GAMBIAid

Thank you very much Pumpmakers for supporting GAMBIAid with a donation and adding our project to your homepage: https://pumpmakers.com/de/

This company is producing the maintenance free solar water pumps we're currently trying to raise the funds for - for the water supply of Wassu, Gambia.

 

>>Based on the latest technology as well as a sustainable and patented concept, Dietmar Stuck, an experienced Austrian well-builder, founder & CEO of Pumpmakers, developed the world’s first DIY Solar Pump in 2010 together with a team of engineers and constructors.

His goal is clear: “Pumpmakers aims at providing millions of people all over the world with access to safe, clean drinking water - and work. Our DIY concept offers a unique opportunity to all those wanting to start their own business. More importantly, it fosters self-sufficiency as it provide s people with the water they need for farming, for their livestock, and for growing their own crops, vegetables and fruit.

Our concepts therefore helps reduce worldwide water shortages and poverty.”<<

 

Watch the video below to learn how these pumps are making a difference!

 

Please support our project with a donation as well by clicking on one of the donation links to the right.

 

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"Stifte stiften" delivery

4 banana boxes full of donated school materials by "Stifte stiften" for our next container have just arrived in our storage. Thank you very much!!!

 

Please keep collecting, the donations are going to make many children happy!

Austrian donors: Please feel free to send your collected items directly to us (not via Germany). Do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

 

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GAMBIAid on the IKEA homepage

IKEA Vösendorf made GAMBIAid officially a part of their social commitment program:  http://www.ikea.com/at/de/store/voesendorf/people_planet_voesendorf#soziales

(bottom of the page)

 

Thank you very much for your continuous support!

 

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Report by "Stifte stiften"

Our partner "Stifte stiften" in Germany wrote a great and very detailed article about Gambia and our work there:

http://www.stifte-stiften.de/gambia-stifte-ueberwinden-grenzen/

 

"Stifte stiften" is a campaign by 1-2-3 Kinderfonds foundation. Children, adults, authorities and companies donate second-hand and new school materials for children in Africa.

 

"Stifte stiften" has already provided school materials for our container in 2015.

 

Thank you very much for the support!

 

 

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The parcel has finally arrived at the Niani schools in Wassu

The parcel containing the printer cartidges etc. has finally arrived in Wassu, where it was already eagerly awaited. The final exams are imminent and the old toners were empty already.

 

Principal Momodou Kanyi (right) is thanking the generous donors.

 

PS: On the photo to the right, you can see the principal's office with one of the donated chairs, screens, keyboards, printers and some of the Mondi copy paper.

 

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Some more IKEA donations

Today I went to pick up some more donations from IKEA:

 

25 packets of MÅLA colored pencils, total value EUR 100,00.

 

The pencils are water-soluble, so with a wet brush the kids can blend colors in their drawing for creative results.

 

Each packet contains 10 natural solid pine wood pencils and a sharpener.

 

Thank you very much again for the support!

 

 

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GSSAA Inter-School Athletics Heat - FIRST RESULTS

The Niani Upper and Senior Secondary School finished 9th (out of 50 schools) in the tournament.

Five students even qualified to represent the school at the national competition next month in Banjul.

 

Congrats!

 

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GAMBIA Independence Day

everybody wants to catch a glimpse
sneak a peek
18 February
Independence Day
(<- almost) everybody wants to see it
parade

Today is Gambia's Independence Day!

 

Independence Day celebrations are held every on the 18th February of each year which marks the day when Gambia gained full independence from colonial Britain in 1965. It is normally celebrated in Banjul at McCarthy Square with a march pass by school children, civil servants, the army, teachers and others in front of the President and other dignitaries.

 

Background:
The country had gained internal self-government earlier in 1963.

The Gambia Independence Act 1964 (1964 c. 93) was an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom. It came into operation on December 17, 1964.

The Act made provisions for the Gambia to gain full independence and become a member of the Commonwealth of Nations; prior to this, it had been a fully self-governing crown colony.

"1. Fully responsible status of The Gambia.
On and after 18th February, 1965 (in this Act referred to as "the appointed day") all those territories which immediately before the appointed day are comprised either in the Colony of the Gambia or in the Protectorate of the Gambia shall together form part of Her Majesty’s dominions under the name of The Gambia; and on and after that day Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom shall have no responsibility for the government of those territories."

"1965: Countdown to Gambian independence -
The Duke and Duchess of Kent have celebrated the end of 300 years of colonial rule in Gambia with 35 chiefs. At midnight Gambia will become the smallest - and 37th - sovereign state in Africa and the last of Britain's West African colonies to gain independence.

It was the first African nation conquered by the British and will become the 21st member of the Commonwealth, as well as the 116th member of the United Nations.

Representing the Queen, the royal couple was escorted to the mansa bengo - gathering of kings - by Gambian Prime Minister Dawda Jawara and Governor Sir John Paul.

All the Gambian leaders showed their respect by removing their shoes before greeting the British dignitaries.

The oldest chief, Toure Sagniang, said: "It gives us confidence to know that as a monarchy we are members of that family of which the Queen is head."

And he thanked the UK for its assistance in making the transition to independence.

The traditional ceremony - in the village of Brikama, 22 miles from the capital, Bathurst - included soothsayers and standard bearers, accompanied by drumming and string instruments.

Guests from around 30 nations were present, including the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, George Mennen, and the Soviet Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Grigori Pashchenko.

Flag up -
The major celebration will begin tonight when the Union Jack is lowered for the last time and replaced with the red, white, blue and green of the Gambian national flag.

Presentations from the Gambian and British delegations will complete the formal beginning of independence.

The British Government has promised to provide support for Gambia, valued at £3m for the next two-and-a-half years".

In 1965 the Gambia had a total population of 320,000.

 

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GSSAA Inter-School Athletics Heat

The Niani Upper and Senior Secondary School is currently on the region's sports week. The athletes will be traveling to Bansang SSS (Bansang Senior Secondary School) for the inter schools sports competition for a period of four days. Wish them good luck!

 

Talented athletes in the secondary school system are expected to seek qualification to take part in the 2016 National Interschool Athletics Championship in various zones starting this weekend.

The Gambia Secondary School Athletics Association (GSSAA) will begin countrywide athletics heats with schools in North Bank and Lower River Regions at the Farafenni Mini-stadium this morning.

The event is expected to wrap up on Sunday with a complete list of qualifiers for the finals.

The following week will feature schools in Central, and Upper River Regions at the Bansang Senior Secondary School grounds, while the heats for schools in the West Coast Region will take place at Bottrop Senior Secondary School grounds a week later.

The final heats is expected to take place at the National Independence Stadium for schools in Region one.

Speaking to The Point Newspaper at the Jarra Soma Bus Station on transit to Farafenni, Augustus A. Mendy noted that the ground is ready for the heats to begin.

"All work is done to ensure that schools are welcomed to participate according to the scheduled dates," he said.

The event is entirely for students in the junior and secondary school levels, he said, adding that none else shall be eligible to participate.

He said heats are expected to be competitive because for an athlete to qualify for the national championship he or she has to be the first or second best in timing for the tract events and best or second best in performance in the field events.

The National Athletics Championship for this year, according to Mr Mendy, is expected to take place at the National Independence Stadium two weeks after the nationwide heats.

It would be recalled that the Gambia Senior Secondary School were winners of the last year's finals followed by Bottrop Senior Secondary School, and Essau Senior Secondary School in the third place.

In the junior school level, Latrikunda Sabiji won the title followed by Barra/Essau Upper Basic School and Brikama Upper Basic School respectively.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201602051124.html

 

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LABDOO

 

GAMBIAid has now also teamed up with Labdoo!

 

 

 

Here is GAMBIAid’s link at Labdoo: https://www.labdoo.org/edoovillage?e=24205

 

Our “Labdoo Hub” is situated in Vienna: https://www.labdoo.org/hub?h=449

 

 

LABDOO is a humanitarian social network joined by people around the world who want to make our planet a better place by providing those in underdeveloped regions (both in the developing and the developed world) a chance at a better education. The goal of the social network is to send unused laptops, ebook readers, tablet-PCs and any device that can be loaded with education software to needy schools around the world using colaboration and without incurring any economic or environmental costs.

 

To set the ground, at Labdoo we call these unused computer devices dootronics, as in labdoo electronics. A dootronic is therefore any laptop, tablet, ebook or device in general that can be loaded with education software and sustainably transported to a needy school.

 

The world retires every year hundreds of millions of dootronics that are still in perfect condition. Simply by sanitizing and loading them with learning software, they can become a very powerful tool to unlock education around the world.

 

How is it possible to collect unused learning devices around the world and sustainably send them where needed without damaging the Planet? Namely, through the combination of two basic building blocks: (1) technology/information sharing and (2) massive global goodwill collaboration. To achieve sustainable organic growth and prevent damaging the planet, we use a collaborative grassroots social networking system. This allows Labdoo to globally unlock resources which are found in excess capacity (such as unused laptops, travelers, know-how, goodwill, etc.). Labdoo and its approach to help bring education around the globe has been acknowledged by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as "promoting a valuable and sustainable contribution to the development of educational learning in foreign countries".

 

How does Labdoo work and how can I make a contribution towards helping spread education? Through five simple steps:

 

  • STEP 1. Tag your unused dootronics. Do you have unused laptops or devices that can be repurposed for education? or do you know a friend, a relative, an organization or a company who has them? then the first step is to tag the devices (the dootronics) you collect so that they can be efficiently organized inside the global inventory. To tag a dootronic, log into your Labdoo account (create your own account first if you have not done so yet) and from the menu located at the top of this page click on the option "Dootronics" and then the sub-option "Tag". In this step, the dootronic is marked with status S0 (tagged) or S1 (donated).
  • STEP 2. Sanitize your dootronics. Once tagged, the dootronic needs to be sanitized and loaded with the education software. You have two options here: (1) you can do this process on your own by following the steps decribed in the sanitation manual; (2) alternatively, you can locate your closest Labdoo hub where you can bring the dootronic so that other labdooers in the hub can carry out the sanitation process for you. In this step, the dootronic is marked with status S2 (sanitized) or S3 (assigned to a school).
  • STEP 3. Identify a dootrip. Once the dootronic is sanitized, we need to identify a CO2-neutral traveling resource that can bring it to a school. We call this type of transportation resource dootrip (as in Labdoo trip). Here again you have two options: (1) if you are traveling to a location near to a needy school, then register your own dootrip by clicking on "Dootrips" and then "Create" from the menu located at the top of this page and use your own trip to bring the laptop to a destination school; (2) alternatively, you can also bring the dootronic to your closest Labdoo hub where other labdooers can help find a dootrip resource to transport it to a school. In this step, the dootronic is marked with status T1 (in transit).
  • STEP 4. Track your dootronics towards 'mission accomplished'. You can track the progress your dootronic makes towards reaching a school by selecting from the menu at the top of this page the option "Dootronic" and then the sub-option "My dootronics" (make sure you are logged into your account.) Click on the specific dootronic, you will be able to see information such as its current status, its geolocalization or its associated destination school. Play around, you will see that you have many different ways to track and contribute to the progress of your dootronic to complete its mission, including options such as uploading pictures, linking a dootronic to a dootrip, reviewing its historical records, and ensuring its status and parameters are most up to date, among many others. In this step, the dootronic is marked with status S4 (delivered).
  • STEP 5. Recycle broken dootronics. The final destination of all devices is a recycling center, so that we can preserve the environment and eleminate electronic waste. If you detect that a deployed device stops functioning, you can change its status and request a dootrip to rescue it and properly recycle it. In this step, the dootronic is marked with status S5 (broken) or S6 (recycled).

 

To find out more, please follow the link: https://www.labdoo.org/content/faq

 

 

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IKEA donations

Gambia soon will be proclaimed a kingdom ;o)

 

IKEA donated 135 stuffed toy kings for the children (total value almost EUR 1,000.00), plus 30 packets of chalk (EUR 60.00).

I went to pick up the donations this afternoon.

The car jam-packed, I was expecting a police escort for this royal transport.

 

 

Thank you very much to IKEA, especially to Nina Höfinger and Daniela Luther, for supporting us again!

 

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Parcel on the way

Yesterday, we packed a parcel with various badly needed printer cartidges for the schools and a camera for photo-updates by Principal Momodou Kanyi. The container will be leaving today and should arrive at Banjul harbor in about one month.

 

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Company Christmas Cards

Central National Europe purchased 550 custom-made Christmas cards. I designed them according to their corporate identity (colors, logo etc.).

With this money we are able to cover our expenses for much-needed items like printer cartidges, first aid materials, lighting systems, transportation costs etc.

 

Thank you very much also to the print shop Gugler for producing them at a NGO-price again and the support.

 

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Spare printer cartridges from RICOH

Today we received two spare printer cartidges for the printer, RICOH has already donated in July 2015. The capacity of each is 11,000 pages.

 

Thanks a lot!

 

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GAMBIAid Folder sponsored by Depot Lager- und Handels GmbH

Depot Lager- und Handels GmbH defrays the costs for the production of our new info folder.

Additionally to their ongoing support including free storage place for the donated goods, handling of incoming goods, container loading etc.

Thank you very much!

Our new Folder - Overview of our work

 letter fold

1st picture: right side = front, center = back, left side = first page inside

2. picture: inside

Thanks to Gugler print shop for the proficient support and printing at NGO price.

 

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Supporter: Raiffeisen Bank

The Raiffeisen Regionalbank Gänserndorf is supporting GAMBIAid with a donation account.

Ms Hofer, from the bank branch Schönkirchen-Reyersdorf, took the time to make a tailor-made offer to meet GAMBIAid's particular needs. We'd been looking for a bank that is as reliable and steady as possible, respecting their own employees and wouldn't push us to sign any contract, but taking the time for counseling. Plus, we are receiving 100 free pre-printed payment forms annually.

 

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New Sponsor: Dehn

Dehn Austria is promoting our project to offer at least a certain level of protection for buildings (and of course people) in Gambia.

 

Mr Andreas Kaltenbrunner, director of  Dehn Austria, was even kind enough to take the donated equipment all the way from Enns to Vienna.

 

We received about 20 kg round wires, 50 kg strips, earthing spikes, wall conductor holders, equipotential bonding bars and surge arresters.

Now we're able to equip at least 1 building (depending on the size) with lighting protection.


 

About Dehn:

 

  • Fourth-generation family-owned company since 1910
  • 1,600 employees worldwide, 1,300 of them in Germany
  • 150 employees in our Product/Market Management and R&D/Construction Department
  • 150 apprentices
  •  4,000 devices and components
  • 18 sales offices in Germany
  • Sales in more than 70 countries as well as 18 subsidiaries and own offices worldwide

 

 

 

 Thank you very much for your support!

 

 

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New Email Address

GAMBIAid can be now reached at its brand-new email address info@gambiaid.com



The old ones are still working though.

 

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Giving Tuesday

This year, on Tuesday, December 1, 2015, GAMBIAid is participating in #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving.


Last year, more than 30,000 organizations in 68 countries came together to celebrate #GivingTuesday. Since its founding in 2012, #GivingTuesday has inspired giving around the world, resulting in greater donations, volunteer hours, and activities that bring about real change in communities. We invite you to join the movement and to help get out the give this December 1.

Some ideas include:
1. Get your workplace and local government officials, nonprofits, and small businesses involved in #GivingTuesday. Encourage them to officially sign up as partners on the website (www.givingtuesday.org) and to organize a campaign that promotes a cause or charity that is meaningful to them.

2. Help spread the word about #GivingTuesday. Join the email list by visiting www.givingtuesday.org/join to receive updates, event invitations, and the latest graphics and tools to share on your social channels.

3. Use the hashtag #GivingTuesday to talk about charity and the causes and organizations you support.

4.Localize #GivingTuesday for your town, city, or state. Many organizations have come together to build local #GivingTuesday campaigns in their neighborhoods. Reach out to other organizations to see how together, you can have a greater impact this December 1.
There are many ways to get involved in #GivingTuesday. We encourage you to join the movement and visit www.givingtuesday.org to learn more about how you can make a difference.

 

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Donations September/October 2015

In September and October, one of our association members travelled to Gambia and took some material with him:

 

  • First aid materials, medications such as pain killers, sphygmomanometers and other health care products
  • Printer cartidges for the schools
  • flood light with motion sensor (more safty at night)
  • clothes
  • etc.


and took little Sera to the ophthalmic clinic.

She seems to have an infection, which is going to be treated first. We have to clarify the general condition of her eyes as well, as they look different. If they can't treat her in Bansang, where she lives, we are going to take her to Kanifing, where a specialist is informed already.

If anyone has an idea or knows advice, please let me know.

 

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Reorganization of www.GAMBIAid.com

In order to make the homepage's content more clearly, the page was devided into "Deutsch" (German) and "English". All information and news can now be found in both languages as ever, but in their own division.

Unfortunately, due to this rearrangement all the facebook likes are lost; the webhost doesn't transfer them to the new pages.
Only the likes of GAMBIAid's facebook page itself are still there.

So, if you revisit this homepage, please relike it as well. Of course new visitors are also very welcome to like GAMBIAid.
Don't forget to follow us on facebook too: www.facebook.com/GAMBIAid

 

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Homepage Update

We're currently updating the homepage. Soon you will be able to choose between a seperate page for German and English.

Stay tuned!

 

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Child Amputee Programme: Ebrima's Story

This year we are also supporting The GLOVE Project's child amputee programme

https://www.gloveproject.life/child-amputees

The profit from the Christmas card sale is currently supporting 4 child amputees.

One of them is EBRIMA, who's had a long journey of suffering.
This is his story.
This post is very long you say? Just imagine how endless this ordeal was for Ebrima.
Still, please take the time and read it, and consider contributing to his and other children's treatments and rehabs.

Warning: Graphic images below

In June 2022, (that time) 11yr old Ebrima was referred to Jackie (The GLOVE Project) by one of the doctors.

He had been in Banjul Hospital for 3 months whilst Drs fought to fight the infection that was literally eating him away. Both bones in his lower leg were broken and badly infected due to lack of treatment. By the time he reached hospital the infection had rotted most of his foot on his uninjured leg as well as parts of his arms where he has wide scarring.

He had surgery to screw and plate his lower leg bones on Thursday and also the surgeons had to massively duride his foot and take a skin graft from his thigh to try to cover his foot.

What an extreme situation . . . 

His father has been by his side for 3 months now, he has no funds left and can not borrow any more. The GLOVE project was funding Ebrimas much needed antibiotics and iv pain relief. Jackie also took him a carton of juice, lots of fresh fruit, some yoghurt and crisps. Ebrima and his father were over joyed and the gifts.

In July 2022, Ebrima has been in hospital for 4 months already.


EBRIMA is very chirpy despite all the metal in his leg to hold the bones together. The good news is the massive terrible infection that was literally eating him away is abating and the skin graft on his foot appears to have taken. There is still such a long way to go for this little boy.

August 2022:

Ebrima is as happy and smiley as ever despite the obvious pain and trauma he continues to go through. He continues to need "masses" of iv medication to keep the infection under control. His medication alone today cost D1300 to last until the team return on Friday.

EBRIMA it seems may be needing further skin grafting as the area over his exposed leg bone does not seem to be healing.

November 2022: "Little" Ebrima is still on the ward at the main hospital in Banjul where he is awaiting to be transferred to Ndemban to have all this "iron" external fixation removed

His surgery was scheduled for early October but hopefully it will go ahead soon. And yet he still smiles.

04 December 2022: The Wet Room at Jackie's house has been dug up and re laid and tiled (to make it wheelchair accessible) so now Ebrima can move in tomorrow with his brother.

As you can see from the second 2 photographs little Ebrima has been left to live in a room on basically a building site with no toilet or bathroom facilities in the care of his 16yr old brother. His father has had to return to Basse under threat of losing his job if he did not return. There is no mother on the scene to help care for Ebrima and he is scheduled to return to hospital for an out patients appointment in 2 weeks. The GLOVE Project has funded his life saving medications on the ward for almost 6 months thanks to amazing supporters.

However, the area of his thigh where the skin graft was taken is still not healing and is weeping through the dressings. We clearly can not leave him to live in these terrible conditions whilst he needs to much medical care and nutrition hence the decision to move him to Jackie's house pending his next hospital appointment.

Tomorrow Jackie and Baboucar will take him to a nearby hospital to have his dressings changed and check his wounds and also an xray of his leg to see if the bones are healing or not as this external fixation has been in place now for 6 long months.

December 2022: EBRIMA now safely at Jackie's house with his elder brother. Jackie took him to Dr Ding for wound dressing as this had not been changed for 5 days. The poor child was screaming hysterically before being touched.

This wound is from where they took the skin graft 6 months ago, it is not healing and is infected (microscopically confirmed).

The dressing needs changing daily and luckily one of Tilly's friends (Sophie) is visiting from UK who is a nurse and also attended the hospital with the child today. Sophie has undertaken to do the daily dressings for the next week and we shall see if any progress is made.

EBRIMA now has a wheelchair donated by David and Linda Chambers and we have been showing him how to move himself around. Sadly, there is so much muscle wastage even to move himself in the wheelchair is a problem.

A large part of the lack of healing, according to Dr Ding, is very poor nutrition and total lack of physio therapy for a very long period of time. This little boys condition is just heart breaking.

 

Jackie and the team will do their very best to try to improve the situation and the general health of Ebrima but this is going to take a very long time.

DRESSING CHANGES FOR EBRIMA are traumatic and difficult though absolutly crucial. The wonderful nurse Pierre who Jackie had previously met at Ndemban clinic, came to start to take over from our visiting nurse Sophie who will be leaving The GLOVE Project soon.

Pierre will be changing Ebrimas dressings every 2 days and has today taken the stitches out which had been in far too long.

Although extremely painful and traumatic for Ebrima you can see from the photographs he quickly returns to his happy smiley self.

There was a discussion with little Ebrimas Consultant after Jackie saw this Xray of this little one's leg. The Consultant confirmed they had attempted to put a 'spacer' in place but this didn't heal / was rejected. It seems Ebrima's immune system is so low any healing is a major problem. The Consultant is considering doing what is known as a fibula transplant. Taking part of the thinner bone (fibula) and using it to fill the gap in the thicker (Tibia) bone. Will this work ???

Jackie has been asked to bring him back to the Consultant in 2 weeks time.


January 2023: 
Young 12 yr old Ebrima has been at Jackie's house (with his 17yr old brother) since the 6th December after he was discharged from hospital into a small room on no more than a building site with no bathroom or toilet facilities. The father had to return to his work in Basse under threat of losing his job. There is no mother around.

Ebrima broke his lower leg but was not taken for treatment, massive osteomyelitis set in and ate so much of his little arms and legs. His right foot was so badly eaten away that a significant skin graft was taken from his right thigh back in early June to cover his foot. At the same time the surgeons tried to save his Tibia bone and placed the external iron fixation.

7 months later the donor graft area has still not healed and a nurse is being paid to come to the house every 2 days to change the dressings special dressings are also needing to be purchased and Ebrima remains on expensive oral antibiotics as well as a high protein diet. This regime and a clean environment is making all the difference to his wound healing and as you can see there are now significant improvements.

Unfortunately the orthopeadic surgeons have had to cut out a substantial part of the tibia bone due to advanced disease and infection and their plan now is to attempt a fibula transplant. This is substantial surgery with a very long recovery period.

Jackie is having significant problems getting to see the consultant with Ebrima and has been told today that he will not be back in clinic for another 2 weeks so we do not even know when this next surgery is going to be likely.

The GLOVE Project has funded Ebrimas iv antibiotics on the ward for many months, he can not return with his father to Basse as he is not fit to travel in his current condition nor will he get the medical and nutritional care that he needs to give him the best chance of healing, to save both his legs.

An awful situation for this little 12 Yr old boy, we just do not know what the future holds for him but we are sure you agree that we really do need to help him, to give him the best possible chance of recovery.

Currently Ebrimas medical care, feeding and additional staff is costing in excess of £300 each month (this includes the brother too )

18 January 2023: 

Jackie: "It was a very long and extremely hot day today of almost 11hrs across 2 hospitals. Firstly Banjul where we were hoping for a frank, open and honest consultation regarding further surgery for this lovely little lad. Both Ebrimas father and myself felt we were not achieving what we had set out to.

This led to a private consultation with Dr Marenah at Westfield Hospital where a very open and honest consultation took place in a way that Ebrimas father could fully understand, obviously Ebrima was not in the room for this.

There appears to be 2 "possible" options for Ebrima, one is the fibula transplant into the gap in his Tibia bone. However, with his history of 2 failed bone spacer grafts, extensive and massive osteomyelitis and very poor healing there appears to be significant risk of this failing. The only other (realistic) option would be amputation.

The conclusion is that Dr Marenah has forwarded all Ebrimas details and xrays onto a British team of orthopeadic surgeons who will be in Gambia in early March. They will fully review little Ebrima and decide IF a fibula transplant really is a feasible option for this little one or not. The father (and myself) were very happy with this and were both very pleased with Dr Marenah's kind, caring, honest and open approach to a very difficult, complex and sensitive case.

 

In the meantime Ebrima will need to continue to stay with me and continue the wound dressing changes every 2 days, reducing his risk of infection, building his immune system and his general muscle strength."

20 February 2023:
AT LONG LONG LAST EBRIMA'S THIGH WOUNDS FROM HIS SKIN GRAFT ARE HEALING.

The first photo (in blue shorts) was taken in early December.

The 2nd photo was taken this morning, almost 3 full months since Ebrima was moved to Jackie's house to receive appropriate care.

Thanks to donors The GLOVE Project has been able to fund specialist wound care dressing changes every 2 days by a qualified nurse throughout this time. Ebrima has received a good high protein diet and supplements, too and has been kept in a clean environment where he has thrived.

We are sure you will remember that this skin graft was taken from him in June 2022, almost 9 months ago. When he moved to Jackie's the wound was in an awful condition and was infected, Ebrima was also hysterical when it came to changing the dressing requiring 3 adults to hold him so the nurse could clean the wound and change the dressing.

The GLOVE Project is also happy to report that this hysteria has now stopped (after the first 5 to 6 weeks) and Ebrima now takes his own bandages off and does not need anyone to hold him. It is fantastic that the team have been able to give him this psychological support to overcome his fear and trauma.

The British Surgical Team will be in Gambia on 3rd/4th March and will review the next surgical options for young Ebrima.

A big thankyou to UNISON East Lancs Health Branch Office and Jane Aitken who have been instrumental in funding Ebrimas care, which as you can imagine, has been expensive.

03 March 2023: 

JUST LOOK AT EBRIMA'S WOUND TODAY.

We are Absolutly over joyed that at long long last this terrible wound is almost healed. This skin graft was taken in June 22. Ebrima was moved to Jackie's house on 2nd December to improve his nutritional state and for alternate day dressings. It has taken 3 full months in great conditions but finally ...... Percerverence, dedication and good care DOES pay off.

08 March 2023: 

"As you can see Ebrima was up sat in a chair this morning for a couple of hours following his first physio session. He screamed and cried despite good pain relief at 8am. No doubt he has pain following such major surgery, he also has a large degree of fear from the awfully traumatic 10 months he spent in hospital previously. This trauma is still clearly evident in him on the ward. Xrays and bloods were also done today and he managed to eat a yoghurt and finish a fortisip drink.

Regular decent pain relief is very important for Ebrima if we are to manage his past trauma without causing him further mental anguish.

Sadly all is not well on that front in my humble opinion. Despite his British consultant prescribing regular tramadol pain relief for a few days this was changed this morning by a Gambian Dr whose name was refused to me.

The only pain relief Ebrima is now allowed to have on a regular basis is a paracetamol tablet. He can only have a tramadol injection 'when needed' (and who will decide when that is)

When I questioned this I was told by the Dr. "If you continue to question these nurses they will refuse to treat this patient and rightly so"

Again Drs name withheld. This was said very loudly in front of many nurses who ALL agreed with the Dr and actually thanked him, and infront of a ward full of patients and their families. Another Dr present totally agreed and went on to say Ebrimas father had already been given todays prescription and unless that is found there won't be another one . . .  Ebrimas father had not been given any prescription.

The Hospital Matron came and 'smoothed' things in his usual very kind way, he also pointed out his office to Ebrimas father should any issues arise. This is a pretty horrifying situation and one I do not find easy to write about as there will no doubt be repercussions for me and potentially for Ebrima too."

11 March 2023

Just 4 days following extensive and major orthopaedic surgery Ebrima is beaming. He says he has no pain and just "wants to get back to Aunty Jackie's House".

He is eating and drinking well, spending most of the day out of the bed and sitting in a chair. He is weight bearing (with assistance) on the leg the surgeons took the bone from and is having daily physiotherapy, what an amazing and brave little boy.

14 March 2023: EBRIMA IS OUT OF HOSPITAL.

Ebrima is so very happy to be back at "Aunty Jackie's" house following his major surgery just 6 days ago. His huge smiles say it all.

The next 6 to 8 weeks are critical to see if the fibula transplant has worked, the leg needs careful management as the 'new' bone could easily be snapped. A very fragile situation with the need for really good plaster and wound care, building up nutrition and the need for 24hr care. This is a big task for Jackie and the team though we know they will continue to do their best.

DAY 7 AND EBRIMA IS UP USING A WALKING FRAME.

What determination from this child.

Once his trunk is stronger using the frame to stand the team will help him progress to crutches. Nor an easy task when his weight bearing leg is also in plaster and has had the fibula removed.

20 March 2023:

Ebrima's wound is now, at long last closing fantastically. The British surgical team left some aloe vera sterile wipes for cleaning, surgical antiseptic spray as well as some special dressings specific for skin grafts. They advised post surgery that these be used as well as starting to apply local honey to the wound. Dressings are still changed every 2 days but what a difference. 16 WEEKS OF SPECIALIST 24HR CARE TO GET THIS FAR BUT HOW FANTASTIC ARE THESE IMPROVEMENTS ?

From a very distraught and traumatised child who needed three adults to hold him to change the dressings to now, well, cool as a cucumber.

Well done Ebrima and well done to Jackie and the team.

Tomorrow marks 14 days since Ebrima had his fibula transplant.

21 March 2023:

EXACTLY 14 DAYS AGO THIS AFTERNOON, EBRIMA HAD A FIBULA TRANSPLANT DONE

NOT ONLY IS HE WEIGHT BEARING ON HIS 'GOOD' LEG BUT HE IS MOVING.

He can not weightbear on the leg that has received the transplant for 6 months and this is the first time in more than 17 months that he has been able to utilise his other leg due to horrendous joint and muscle eating infection.

17 April 2023:

EBRIMA'S WOUNDS ARE CONTINUING TO HEAL NICELY, HE IS SO HAPPY TO SEE THE PROGRESS.

When Ebrima moved to Jackie's house on 2nd December these wounds were deep, infected and horrific, the child was absolutly hysterical when anyone went near him to change the dressings needing 3 adults to hold him down. Poor Ebrima had suffered the most terrible trauma during his 10 months in hospital.

After approx 6 weeks Ebrima calmed down and soon felt safe and cared for that the hysteria stopped and the visiting nurse was able to change the dressings with less trauma.

On the recommendations of Drs honey treatment was tried but after 2 weeks the wound was wet, messy and not healing so the nurse reverted back to dry dressings and now we are seeing improvements again.

Dressings have been changed every 2 days for almost 4 months now, the nurse, good nutrition has made all the difference to this little boys healing.

Walking with crutches does not seem such a big deal but for this 13yr old boy it is an absolute MASSIVE achievement, let us explain.

EBRIMA has been absolutly riddled with a bone and joint eating infection called osteomyelitis, a large part of his tibia bone in his left leg was infected and removed and he was left in an iron fixation for more than 9 months. He was terribly malnourished when he was placed with Jackie on 2nd December 2022. He could not even move himself in a wheelchair, he had no strength at all.

Ebrima has not been "upright" for more than 18 months until recently. He has progressed through learning to use a walking frame, to under arm pit crutches to what you see today thanks to the determination of Jackie and the team. It has not been easy, Ebrima had a 2 week period where he seemed to have decided that he wanted to stay in a wheelchair and not regain any independence but with the perseverance of the team this was over come and today we are so happy to share this amazing progress.

A little boy who was at high risk of losing a leg, who really was not likely to ever leave a wheelchair, to be forever dependent on others for his mobility. The dedication of the team is clearly demonstrated here with Ebrima who has lived with Jackie since 2nd December 2022, whose nutritional status is now normal, a little boy terribly traumatised is now thriving. His skin graft donor site continues to heal and we are all so happy for him.

He will soon be having xrays to see if the fibula transplant has taken and we will then be clearer on his future.

29 April 2023: 

Today Ebrima had his xrays done some 7 weeks post fibula transplant to see if the transplanted bone was starting to 'take'

Unfortunately for Ebrima Dr Marenah is not in the country so he was not able to be reviewed so we shall await the outcome regarding "what next" with bated breathe.

Has the transplant worked ?

If not then amputation would be the only option.

If it is working should the plaster be changed ?

Kept at full length or reduced to below knee?

Hopefully the xrays will be reviewed remotely and we should soon find out more.

The bone is clearly still in alignment though very fragile and continues to need a lot of 'protection ' and good care, no weight-bearing for a very long time yet.

12 May 2023:

As You can see, at long long last the skin graft site is eventually healing. This skin was taken in early June last year and when Ebrima moved to Jackie's house on 2nd Dec 22 it was deep and terribly infected. NOW a whopping 161 days later it is almost closed. A nurse has been visiting every 2 days, thats over 80 (paid) dressing changes at approx £8.50 per time plus the dressing materials. . . Yes, that is a LOT of money, but if left then we dread to think what would have happened to this little boy.

Now the not so good news. Ebrima is in the awful state he is because of an infection called osteomyelitis which was left untreated for a very long time it ate away his foot and ankle joint, a lot of his knee and his hand and arm all on his 'good side' as well as eating away a large chunk of his tibia bone which led to the fibula transplant in March of this year.

We thought the infection had cleared some considerable time ago but this past 2 weeks the team have been battling with what appears to be a fresh outbreak just under his right arm.

This has lead to cleaning, packing and dressing 3x every day. Thankfully the foul smelling discharge pouring from the area appears to be subsiding. This area may need to be surgically opened and the bone 'scraped' to clear the infection properly.

The team continues to await review by Dr Marenah on both this and to find out if the fibula transplant has actually worked.

 

This poor little lad has really been through so much and yet he continues to smile.

17 May 2023:

Dr Marenah (and the British Surgeons) are happy with Ebrimas recent xrays and confirm there is no sign of the transplant failing. On Saturday his full leg plaster will be reduced to below knee though none weight bearing, for a further 4 to 6 weeks.

THEN changed to a partial weight bearing (or an Orthopeadic Boot) for a minimum of 6 months. What fantastic news. . .

SADLY there is some not so good news for this little lad. Most of his body was riddled with massive osteomyelitis which caused all of these problems in the first place. It would appear the nasty, rotten infection has reactivated at the top of and under his right arm. The poison is literally running out despite dressings being changed 3x per day.

 

Ebrima will have an xray at Westfield on Saturday when he attends to have his plaster cast changed. Dr Marenah wants to see what's happening with this infection and find a way forward with its treatment. Ebrima is now losing weight likely due to this infection and this is all an added worry.

20 May 2023: 

Little EBRIMA has now progressed from a full leg POP to a below knee plaster and he is absolutly thrilled. 4 to 6 more weeks then the plaster can come off and he can then start (partial) weight bearing in an orthopaedic boot on this leg which is where he had the fibula transplant in early March.

He celebrated with a hair cut and a big fat sticky donut and why not?

SADLY the news is not so straight forward with regards to his active osteomyelitis. The xray does not give a definitive answer and was reviewed immediately by Dr Marenah who recommends an MRI scan as the infection could he in his upper chest area. An MRI scan will definitely be able to confirm where this infection is sitting, so they really need to get this done which will of course cost ...

This little lad has been through so so much, he has come so very far and made so much progress, at times even "against the odds" but he still has so far to go yet and the fact the infection has reactivated really could be a huge issue. Until we get the MRI things will continue to hang in the balance.

25 June 2023:
YESTERDAY WAS A MASSIVE MILESTONE FOR EBRIMA as well as for Jackie and Baboucar. 

AT LONG LAST Ebrima has had his plaster cast removed and is now able to stand on his own 2 legs with the aid of an orthopaedic boot, for the FIRST time in over 2 years this little boy is now relearning to walk.

His body was ravaged by the terrible osteomyelitis infection that has eaten a lot of his tibia, ankle, wrist, elbow and shoulder. He had a massive skin graft and the site would not heal. He had several operations and was left with a massive metal external fixation on his leg for over 9 months with no hope of removing it until Gam Med stepped in via Dr Kebba Marenah and undertook a fibula transplant to give this boy some hope for the future.

It has been a very long haul for the team who has been involved with Ebrima since last June. He has been at Jackie's house since the 2nd December and the cost for his 24hr care, all his wound care and medical care has been very significant for this small charity. The dedication and commitment from the team has been above and beyond what anyone would expect considering the ongoing home visits, monitoring and residential rehabilitation of the child amputees that has continued throughout.

Ebrima has battled against all the odds and to now see him up on 2 legs relearning how to walk is just overwhelming and soon he will be able to return to his fathers care.

15 June 2023:

We posted earlier that the large wound on his thigh has at long last fully closed.

The damage to Ebrimas body has been caused by an infection called osteomyelitis which really has ravaged him. The infection seemed under control and he was 'dry ' until there was a rupture at the top of his arm towards his chest wall where poison has poured out for weeks on end. Of course he has been medically reviewed, an xray was clear that the infection was NOT in his arm or shoulder. An MRI scan was done 2 weeks ago to see if the site of the infection could be found. Jackie is STILL waiting for the MRI report which has been greatly delayed due to the relevant staff being on a workshop.

Jackie has been informed, "maybe next week"

On a brighter note, just one more week and Ebrima can have his plaster cast removed which has been in place since his fibula transplant by Gam Med on 7th March this year.

Once out of plaster Ebrima will wear an Orthopeadic boot and will, at very long last, be up on 2 legs again.

1 July 2023:

TODAY MARKS A NEW CHAPTER IN EBRIMA'S LIFE.

EBRIMA HAS RETURNED TO HIS FATHER WHO IS TAKING HIM HOME WITH HIM TO BASSE TODAY.

As an organisation The GLOVE Project strongly advised against this and did all they could to facilitate the father staying in the more local area so that we could monitor Ebrima and so as he had access to health care. Jackie and Baboucar went as far as to advise the father that moving his child to Basse could have big implications for EBRIMA'S health.

At the end of the day all they can do is advise and recommend, the final decision is with Ebrimas father and as such, they are currently enrolled to the far end of the country.

Ebrima has overcome so so much, he has most certainly "beaten the odds " as it were and we wish him a continued recovery and much happiness. This is the first time Ebrima has been back under his fathers care since February 2022. 8 months in Hospital and a full 7 months at Jackie's house, it has been a long and traumatic journey for this darling little boy.

15 September 2023:

EBRIMA has been back for his outpatients appointment at Banjul Hospital travelling all the way from Basse. Unfortunately, Dr Marenah was not in clinic so he has been given another appointment for the end of September to be seen.

The team was a little disappointed that Ebrima's walking has detiorated since leaving the project house on the 1st July. Baboucar had a long chat with both Ebrima and his father reminding them how crucial it is to continue the exercises and walking practice if his mobility is to be improved.

 

30 September 2023:

EBRIMA HAS ATTENDED HIS OUTPATIENTS APPOINTMEMT TO SEE DR MARENAH.

Unfortunately, Dr Marena was not in clinic and Ebrima was reviewed by A Cuban Professor who has recently taken up post in Banjul from Farafenni. Unfortunately Xrays are showing there is a "bit of an issue" with the transplanted bone since Ebrima has returned to his home in Basse. As far as we can understand, this is not critical at the moment but as a precaution Ebrima has been asked to revert back to using 2 crutches in order to lessen the weight bearing on this leg.

The amazing Gam Med team who carried out this bone transplant are returning to the Gambia in November and will hopefully be able to review Ebrima and advise on the situation.

Baboucar spent considerable time talking to both Ebrima and his father and advising them on taking care of this leg. Ebrima was also given a good supply of nutritional drinks to supplement his diet, thanks to Mary French for donating these drinks which make such a difference.

14 November 2023:

"POOR EBRIMA. Today we received this xray of Ebrima's leg which recently underwent surgery by the Gam Med team. The xray looks as though the bone that was transplanted in March of this year has been removed although we are not Drs of course. We also know you will all have many questions such as,

"has the transplanted bone been removed"

"if so why"

"what is the surgery scheduled for 6 months time for"

"what is the prognosis for Ebrima's leg"

"would it not be much better in the long run for Ebrima to have this lower leg amputated and have a prosthetic"

"where is he going to live and who is going to care for him"

Sadly, we are not able to answer the medical questions and Jackie has messaged the Gam Med team several days ago to try to get more information so that we are better placed to offer Ebrima the most appropriate care that we can. This is with the full permission of Ebrima's father, we understand Jackie is still waiting for a reply from the Gam Med team."

24 November 2023:

EBRIMA HAS LEFT HOSPITAL AND IS NOW AT THE PROJECT HOUSE WITH JACKIE.

This little boy has gone through so much yet his smile touches your heart. He has so far to go and so many surgeries ahead of him it is just unimaginable. Yet STILL he smiles...

Once Ebrima was settled and the dogs had finished their greetings, Jackie and Baboucar say down with the father and explained everything the surgeons had said in their recent message to Jackie Church regarding Ebrima's leg and all the future treatments and surgeries that he will likely need as well as how long this will all take.

Ebrima's father apparently cried, he was so distraught to hear this news saying "How can I put my child through this, I just can't do this to him and watch him suffer over and over"

"He has already had so many operations and has suffered so much this past 2 years."

He went on to say that he "had absolutly no idea of any of this"

and that his understanding was

"that the iron has to stay on Ebrima's leg for 6 months and then a operation to take it off and all will be fine with his leg."

Ebrima's father states he is eternally grateful to The Glove Project and the care they have given and are giving, to his young son stating, "I could not have done any of this without GLOVE, I am not even sure Ebrima would have survived without your help"

Jackie and Baboucar will give Ebrima's father the support he needs and will care for Ebrima to the best of their abilities.

As well as needing 24 hours care and support Ebrima has lost a lot of weight and looks like an 8 or 9 year old child not a teenager of almost 14 years. As well as intensive medical care Ebrima also needs a high protein and high calorie diet along with heaps of TLC.


24 January 2024:

Ebrima, the little boy ravished by osteomyelitis as he was not taken for hospital treatment following a broken lower leg. He did not receive appropriate treatment for more than 6 months, likely nearer a year. He suffered the most terrible neglect followed by numerous surgeries and 8 months in hospital. His life was saved but his trauma was not finished.

Drs and surgeons have gallantly battled to save Ebrima's life and his leg including the British team Gam Med and Dr Marenah. Ebrima spent 8 months at the project house last year, he has been back there since Jackie returned on 23td November having had further surgery by Gam Med. The bone transplant that was undertaken last March had failed, several more surgeries have been planned, likely taking a good 18 plus months. Ebrima is suffering, his father is a single working parent and their home has been at the opposite side of the country where Ebrima can not receive the medical or home care that he needs. There is no extended family in Gambia, his father is a none Gambian.

There are no effective social services, child care facilities or the likes in the Gambia, what a terrible situation.

EBRIMA'S leg is infected, he is in a lot of pain and was taken to Ndemban Hospital on Monday morning where antibiotics and strong pain killers were prescribed by Dr Marenah and his team.

Yesterday, Dr Marenah met with EBRIMA'S father, Jackie and the project manager and the difficult decision was made for Ebrimas leg to be amputated.

Ebrima has suffered terrible trauma during his lengthy stays in hospital, the very nature of the damage and open wounds caused by his body being ravaged by infection making all dressing changes extremely painful. Because of this, and in order to reduce further trauma and reawakening terrible memories the decision has been taken that the amputation will take place at a private hospital. We are sure you will agree that this will be far better for Ebrimas mental health.

The surgery is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 3rd February.

02 February 2024:

A SHORT BUT SWEET MESSAGE FROM EBRIMA AS HE LEAVES TO GO TO HOSPITAL WITH Jackie Church .

TOMORROW HIS LEG WILL BE AMPUTATED.

03 February 2024:

EBRIMA IS PAIN FREE AND DOING WELL.

We can finally report that Ebrima's surgery is over and has gone well. His amputated leg has been buried by Baboucarr Sonko and Ebrima's father in line with their religious beliefs and Ebrima is wide awake, full of smiles and full of good pain killers.

05 February 2024:

EBRIMA IS RECOVERING WELL.

Jackie Church has continued to be by Ebrimas side and as you can see from the video he is up and about and doing physio.

Pain free and now taking oral pain killers he will hopefully be back at the project house tomorrow where he will receive the best possible care ..... and be spoilt a bit.

06 February 2024:

EBRIMA IS OUT OF HOSPITAL.

He has had a lot of vomiting today due to pain meds so is not his usual bright and breeze self though that will soon pass. As Ebrima himself says, a Very BIG Thankyou to Dr Marenah.

11 February 2024:

7 DAYS POST AMPUTATION.

Ebrima is doing fantastic within himself, he has no pain, is no longer requiring any pain relief, is eating well and in good spirits. Tomorrow he will be having a hair cut which he is very much looking forward to. Sadly, Ebrima had to be taken back to Hospital for an addituonal review by the wonderful Dr Marenah yesterday as his dressings were soaked and the smell was terrible. As you can see from the photo, the wound has started to reopen / breakdown. This has absolutly nothing to do with the quality of surgery nor the stitching which were of course, excellent. This is more to do with Ebrima's complex history of massive chronic osteomyelitis as well as the recent very high temperatures and humidity.

Ebrima's healing capacity is significantly compromised, we expected poor healing and no doubt this wound is going to open further and his healing will be slow. The team, along with Dr Marenah will continue to do their very best.

19 February 2023:

Sadly, Ebrima has taken a tumble on his crutches and fallen heavily onto his knees. He did not put his hands down to break his fall and as a result he has a small chip in his bone just above his knee on his amputated leg and is in a back slab and currently wheelchair bound.

There is a question mark over potential injury to his remaining leg, a possible fracture there but lateral xrays were not possible due to Ebrima's level of discomfort. These will be re attempted tomorrow. This awful accident will put Ebrimas post amputation recovery back a good 6 to 8 weeks.

Further, Dr Marenah explained that when the sutures in Ebrima's wound are removed (tomorrow) the whole area may well breakdown and this could result in a skin graft being needed to repair the area. Ebrima also needs surgery to correct his knee on his remaining leg which was ravaged by infection, nothing to do with his fall.

 

The team in Gambia are distraught at what has happened and what is happening for Ebrima. Clearly Ebrima is needing a massive amount of care and support and this is clearly going to remain the case for at least the next 2 to 3 months.

29 February 2024:

Ebrima has been reviewed By Dr Marenah this evening and he is pleased with his progress. The wound from the amputation is not pretty but, surprisingly it is not deep and is not now infected. It is definitely better than was expected. Ebrima will continue to require wound care and dressings changed every 2 days and the team has a good wound care nurse to visit the house to do this thanks to your donations.

Ebrimas leg has to remain with a back slab and he is to remain none weight bearing for a further 4 weeks when further xrays and review will take place. The high level 24 hour care for Ebrima is going to be needed for at least the next 2 months and the decision will be made at the next review regarding surgery on the knee of his remaining leg.

Despite all of this, Ebrima is back in good spirits and full of smiles.

Taking care of Ebrima and his complex needs is very demanding but Jackie Church and the team in Gambia will continue to do the very best that they can.

We'll keep you updated on Ebrima's and the other children's progress.
If you would like to send a donation to this project or specifically Ebrima, please let us know (reason for transfer). We'll make sure all these donations will reach The GLOVE Project.

 

 

ABOUT THE CHILD AMPUTEE PROGRAMME

Here in The Gambia those with disabilities are frequently marginalised, ostracised, socially isolated and many (children) are abandoned. There is no Government assistance and generally the cultural and societal belief is that these people can achieve little more than being street beggar’s.

This is the harsh reality.

The Glove Project's Juvinille Amputee Programme started in February 2019 when they came across 15yr old Dembo. Child Amputees are frequently not at school, being deemed unworthy of the expense of uniform, books, shoes etc in a Country where money is a scarce commodity. Why spend scarce resources on a child  deemed unlikely to become anything other than a street beggar.  These children are frequently neglected and hidden away.

 

 

THE PROSTHETICS

Are old and cumbersome, heavy and ugly frequently the children sizes are not available and the team have to cobble things together. Whilst these are free the sockets to fit the stump have to be molded and made to fit the individual and it is these materials which have to be paid for as well as transport to and from the prosthetic centre in Banjul.

 

 

HOW THE GLOVE PROJECT DOES THIS

"Spend time visiting the child and care givers at their home, the children are rarely with their mothers and fathers, rather  with extended family, frequently living in abject poverty.

Purchasing the fitting of a prosthetic leg and rehabilitation onto that leg.

Ensuring the child has a place at a school, funding uniform, books and all necessary equipment. At times including school feeding if under nourished which most are.

Purchasing bicycles to promote mobility and social standing. To have a bike is a considerable achievement here and quite a status symbol for a child.

The distances to school are frequently too far to walk on the old prosthetic legs that are available and without a bicycle, attending school would not be an option for most of these children.

Supplying sacks of rice which is the staple food, to the family so as the child is seen to be of some value and to promote improved nutrition.

When donations allow clothes and shoes are given.

We undertake regular home visits to monitor the child and to encourage acceptance and value by the family, promoting love and involvement by the local community.

We find and fund apprenticeships for the older children.

 

We monitor growth and fund replacement prosthetic fitting as the child outgrows their limbs. New prosthetic limbs are needed approx. every 6 to 9 month depending on growth rate. We monitor for bones growing through the amputation site and arrange and escort for Orthopeadic reviews. This may mean re amputation or trimming of the growing bones is necessary and timely intervention is required along with intensive post operation care."

Text and photos mainly by The GLOVE Project

 

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Child Amputee Programme: Ebrima's Story

This year we are also supporting The GLOVE Project's child amputee programme

https://www.gloveproject.life/child-amputees

The profit from the Christmas card sale is currently supporting 4 child amputees.

One of them is EBRIMA, who's had a long journey of suffering.
This is his story.
This post is very long you say? Just imagine how endless this ordeal was for Ebrima.
Still, please take the time and read it, and consider contributing to his and other children's treatments and rehabs.

Warning: Graphic images below

In June 2022, (that time) 11yr old Ebrima was referred to Jackie (The GLOVE Project) by one of the doctors.

He had been in Banjul Hospital for 3 months whilst Drs fought to fight the infection that was literally eating him away. Both bones in his lower leg were broken and badly infected due to lack of treatment. By the time he reached hospital the infection had rotted most of his foot on his uninjured leg as well as parts of his arms where he has wide scarring.

He had surgery to screw and plate his lower leg bones on Thursday and also the surgeons had to massively duride his foot and take a skin graft from his thigh to try to cover his foot.

What an extreme situation . . . 

His father has been by his side for 3 months now, he has no funds left and can not borrow any more. The GLOVE project was funding Ebrimas much needed antibiotics and iv pain relief. Jackie also took him a carton of juice, lots of fresh fruit, some yoghurt and crisps. Ebrima and his father were over joyed and the gifts.

In July 2022, Ebrima has been in hospital for 4 months already.


EBRIMA is very chirpy despite all the metal in his leg to hold the bones together. The good news is the massive terrible infection that was literally eating him away is abating and the skin graft on his foot appears to have taken. There is still such a long way to go for this little boy.

August 2022:

Ebrima is as happy and smiley as ever despite the obvious pain and trauma he continues to go through. He continues to need "masses" of iv medication to keep the infection under control. His medication alone today cost D1300 to last until the team return on Friday.

EBRIMA it seems may be needing further skin grafting as the area over his exposed leg bone does not seem to be healing.

November 2022: "Little" Ebrima is still on the ward at the main hospital in Banjul where he is awaiting to be transferred to Ndemban to have all this "iron" external fixation removed

His surgery was scheduled for early October but hopefully it will go ahead soon. And yet he still smiles.

04 December 2022: The Wet Room at Jackie's house has been dug up and re laid and tiled (to make it wheelchair accessible) so now Ebrima can move in tomorrow with his brother.

As you can see from the second 2 photographs little Ebrima has been left to live in a room on basically a building site with no toilet or bathroom facilities in the care of his 16yr old brother. His father has had to return to Basse under threat of losing his job if he did not return. There is no mother on the scene to help care for Ebrima and he is scheduled to return to hospital for an out patients appointment in 2 weeks. The GLOVE Project has funded his life saving medications on the ward for almost 6 months thanks to amazing supporters.

However, the area of his thigh where the skin graft was taken is still not healing and is weeping through the dressings. We clearly can not leave him to live in these terrible conditions whilst he needs to much medical care and nutrition hence the decision to move him to Jackie's house pending his next hospital appointment.

Tomorrow Jackie and Baboucar will take him to a nearby hospital to have his dressings changed and check his wounds and also an xray of his leg to see if the bones are healing or not as this external fixation has been in place now for 6 long months.

December 2022: EBRIMA now safely at Jackie's house with his elder brother. Jackie took him to Dr Ding for wound dressing as this had not been changed for 5 days. The poor child was screaming hysterically before being touched.

This wound is from where they took the skin graft 6 months ago, it is not healing and is infected (microscopically confirmed).

The dressing needs changing daily and luckily one of Tilly's friends (Sophie) is visiting from UK who is a nurse and also attended the hospital with the child today. Sophie has undertaken to do the daily dressings for the next week and we shall see if any progress is made.

EBRIMA now has a wheelchair donated by David and Linda Chambers and we have been showing him how to move himself around. Sadly, there is so much muscle wastage even to move himself in the wheelchair is a problem.

A large part of the lack of healing, according to Dr Ding, is very poor nutrition and total lack of physio therapy for a very long period of time. This little boys condition is just heart breaking.

 

Jackie and the team will do their very best to try to improve the situation and the general health of Ebrima but this is going to take a very long time.

DRESSING CHANGES FOR EBRIMA are traumatic and difficult though absolutly crucial. The wonderful nurse Pierre who Jackie had previously met at Ndemban clinic, came to start to take over from our visiting nurse Sophie who will be leaving The GLOVE Project soon.

Pierre will be changing Ebrimas dressings every 2 days and has today taken the stitches out which had been in far too long.

Although extremely painful and traumatic for Ebrima you can see from the photographs he quickly returns to his happy smiley self.

There was a discussion with little Ebrimas Consultant after Jackie saw this Xray of this little one's leg. The Consultant confirmed they had attempted to put a 'spacer' in place but this didn't heal / was rejected. It seems Ebrima's immune system is so low any healing is a major problem. The Consultant is considering doing what is known as a fibula transplant. Taking part of the thinner bone (fibula) and using it to fill the gap in the thicker (Tibia) bone. Will this work ???

Jackie has been asked to bring him back to the Consultant in 2 weeks time.


January 2023: 
Young 12 yr old Ebrima has been at Jackie's house (with his 17yr old brother) since the 6th December after he was discharged from hospital into a small room on no more than a building site with no bathroom or toilet facilities. The father had to return to his work in Basse under threat of losing his job. There is no mother around.

Ebrima broke his lower leg but was not taken for treatment, massive osteomyelitis set in and ate so much of his little arms and legs. His right foot was so badly eaten away that a significant skin graft was taken from his right thigh back in early June to cover his foot. At the same time the surgeons tried to save his Tibia bone and placed the external iron fixation.

7 months later the donor graft area has still not healed and a nurse is being paid to come to the house every 2 days to change the dressings special dressings are also needing to be purchased and Ebrima remains on expensive oral antibiotics as well as a high protein diet. This regime and a clean environment is making all the difference to his wound healing and as you can see there are now significant improvements.

Unfortunately the orthopeadic surgeons have had to cut out a substantial part of the tibia bone due to advanced disease and infection and their plan now is to attempt a fibula transplant. This is substantial surgery with a very long recovery period.

Jackie is having significant problems getting to see the consultant with Ebrima and has been told today that he will not be back in clinic for another 2 weeks so we do not even know when this next surgery is going to be likely.

The GLOVE Project has funded Ebrimas iv antibiotics on the ward for many months, he can not return with his father to Basse as he is not fit to travel in his current condition nor will he get the medical and nutritional care that he needs to give him the best chance of healing, to save both his legs.

An awful situation for this little 12 Yr old boy, we just do not know what the future holds for him but we are sure you agree that we really do need to help him, to give him the best possible chance of recovery.

Currently Ebrimas medical care, feeding and additional staff is costing in excess of £300 each month (this includes the brother too )

18 January 2023: 

Jackie: "It was a very long and extremely hot day today of almost 11hrs across 2 hospitals. Firstly Banjul where we were hoping for a frank, open and honest consultation regarding further surgery for this lovely little lad. Both Ebrimas father and myself felt we were not achieving what we had set out to.

This led to a private consultation with Dr Marenah at Westfield Hospital where a very open and honest consultation took place in a way that Ebrimas father could fully understand, obviously Ebrima was not in the room for this.

There appears to be 2 "possible" options for Ebrima, one is the fibula transplant into the gap in his Tibia bone. However, with his history of 2 failed bone spacer grafts, extensive and massive osteomyelitis and very poor healing there appears to be significant risk of this failing. The only other (realistic) option would be amputation.

The conclusion is that Dr Marenah has forwarded all Ebrimas details and xrays onto a British team of orthopeadic surgeons who will be in Gambia in early March. They will fully review little Ebrima and decide IF a fibula transplant really is a feasible option for this little one or not. The father (and myself) were very happy with this and were both very pleased with Dr Marenah's kind, caring, honest and open approach to a very difficult, complex and sensitive case.

 

In the meantime Ebrima will need to continue to stay with me and continue the wound dressing changes every 2 days, reducing his risk of infection, building his immune system and his general muscle strength."

20 February 2023:
AT LONG LONG LAST EBRIMA'S THIGH WOUNDS FROM HIS SKIN GRAFT ARE HEALING.

The first photo (in blue shorts) was taken in early December.

The 2nd photo was taken this morning, almost 3 full months since Ebrima was moved to Jackie's house to receive appropriate care.

Thanks to donors The GLOVE Project has been able to fund specialist wound care dressing changes every 2 days by a qualified nurse throughout this time. Ebrima has received a good high protein diet and supplements, too and has been kept in a clean environment where he has thrived.

We are sure you will remember that this skin graft was taken from him in June 2022, almost 9 months ago. When he moved to Jackie's the wound was in an awful condition and was infected, Ebrima was also hysterical when it came to changing the dressing requiring 3 adults to hold him so the nurse could clean the wound and change the dressing.

The GLOVE Project is also happy to report that this hysteria has now stopped (after the first 5 to 6 weeks) and Ebrima now takes his own bandages off and does not need anyone to hold him. It is fantastic that the team have been able to give him this psychological support to overcome his fear and trauma.

The British Surgical Team will be in Gambia on 3rd/4th March and will review the next surgical options for young Ebrima.

A big thankyou to UNISON East Lancs Health Branch Office and Jane Aitken who have been instrumental in funding Ebrimas care, which as you can imagine, has been expensive.

03 March 2023: 

JUST LOOK AT EBRIMA'S WOUND TODAY.

We are Absolutly over joyed that at long long last this terrible wound is almost healed. This skin graft was taken in June 22. Ebrima was moved to Jackie's house on 2nd December to improve his nutritional state and for alternate day dressings. It has taken 3 full months in great conditions but finally ...... Percerverence, dedication and good care DOES pay off.

08 March 2023: 

"As you can see Ebrima was up sat in a chair this morning for a couple of hours following his first physio session. He screamed and cried despite good pain relief at 8am. No doubt he has pain following such major surgery, he also has a large degree of fear from the awfully traumatic 10 months he spent in hospital previously. This trauma is still clearly evident in him on the ward. Xrays and bloods were also done today and he managed to eat a yoghurt and finish a fortisip drink.

Regular decent pain relief is very important for Ebrima if we are to manage his past trauma without causing him further mental anguish.

Sadly all is not well on that front in my humble opinion. Despite his British consultant prescribing regular tramadol pain relief for a few days this was changed this morning by a Gambian Dr whose name was refused to me.

The only pain relief Ebrima is now allowed to have on a regular basis is a paracetamol tablet. He can only have a tramadol injection 'when needed' (and who will decide when that is)

When I questioned this I was told by the Dr. "If you continue to question these nurses they will refuse to treat this patient and rightly so"

Again Drs name withheld. This was said very loudly in front of many nurses who ALL agreed with the Dr and actually thanked him, and infront of a ward full of patients and their families. Another Dr present totally agreed and went on to say Ebrimas father had already been given todays prescription and unless that is found there won't be another one . . .  Ebrimas father had not been given any prescription.

The Hospital Matron came and 'smoothed' things in his usual very kind way, he also pointed out his office to Ebrimas father should any issues arise. This is a pretty horrifying situation and one I do not find easy to write about as there will no doubt be repercussions for me and potentially for Ebrima too."

11 March 2023

Just 4 days following extensive and major orthopaedic surgery Ebrima is beaming. He says he has no pain and just "wants to get back to Aunty Jackie's House".

He is eating and drinking well, spending most of the day out of the bed and sitting in a chair. He is weight bearing (with assistance) on the leg the surgeons took the bone from and is having daily physiotherapy, what an amazing and brave little boy.

14 March 2023: EBRIMA IS OUT OF HOSPITAL.

Ebrima is so very happy to be back at "Aunty Jackie's" house following his major surgery just 6 days ago. His huge smiles say it all.

The next 6 to 8 weeks are critical to see if the fibula transplant has worked, the leg needs careful management as the 'new' bone could easily be snapped. A very fragile situation with the need for really good plaster and wound care, building up nutrition and the need for 24hr care. This is a big task for Jackie and the team though we know they will continue to do their best.

DAY 7 AND EBRIMA IS UP USING A WALKING FRAME.

What determination from this child.

Once his trunk is stronger using the frame to stand the team will help him progress to crutches. Nor an easy task when his weight bearing leg is also in plaster and has had the fibula removed.

20 March 2023:

Ebrima's wound is now, at long last closing fantastically. The British surgical team left some aloe vera sterile wipes for cleaning, surgical antiseptic spray as well as some special dressings specific for skin grafts. They advised post surgery that these be used as well as starting to apply local honey to the wound. Dressings are still changed every 2 days but what a difference. 16 WEEKS OF SPECIALIST 24HR CARE TO GET THIS FAR BUT HOW FANTASTIC ARE THESE IMPROVEMENTS ?

From a very distraught and traumatised child who needed three adults to hold him to change the dressings to now, well, cool as a cucumber.

Well done Ebrima and well done to Jackie and the team.

Tomorrow marks 14 days since Ebrima had his fibula transplant.

21 March 2023:

EXACTLY 14 DAYS AGO THIS AFTERNOON, EBRIMA HAD A FIBULA TRANSPLANT DONE

NOT ONLY IS HE WEIGHT BEARING ON HIS 'GOOD' LEG BUT HE IS MOVING.

He can not weightbear on the leg that has received the transplant for 6 months and this is the first time in more than 17 months that he has been able to utilise his other leg due to horrendous joint and muscle eating infection.

17 April 2023:

EBRIMA'S WOUNDS ARE CONTINUING TO HEAL NICELY, HE IS SO HAPPY TO SEE THE PROGRESS.

When Ebrima moved to Jackie's house on 2nd December these wounds were deep, infected and horrific, the child was absolutly hysterical when anyone went near him to change the dressings needing 3 adults to hold him down. Poor Ebrima had suffered the most terrible trauma during his 10 months in hospital.

After approx 6 weeks Ebrima calmed down and soon felt safe and cared for that the hysteria stopped and the visiting nurse was able to change the dressings with less trauma.

On the recommendations of Drs honey treatment was tried but after 2 weeks the wound was wet, messy and not healing so the nurse reverted back to dry dressings and now we are seeing improvements again.

Dressings have been changed every 2 days for almost 4 months now, the nurse, good nutrition has made all the difference to this little boys healing.

Walking with crutches does not seem such a big deal but for this 13yr old boy it is an absolute MASSIVE achievement, let us explain.

EBRIMA has been absolutly riddled with a bone and joint eating infection called osteomyelitis, a large part of his tibia bone in his left leg was infected and removed and he was left in an iron fixation for more than 9 months. He was terribly malnourished when he was placed with Jackie on 2nd December 2022. He could not even move himself in a wheelchair, he had no strength at all.

Ebrima has not been "upright" for more than 18 months until recently. He has progressed through learning to use a walking frame, to under arm pit crutches to what you see today thanks to the determination of Jackie and the team. It has not been easy, Ebrima had a 2 week period where he seemed to have decided that he wanted to stay in a wheelchair and not regain any independence but with the perseverance of the team this was over come and today we are so happy to share this amazing progress.

A little boy who was at high risk of losing a leg, who really was not likely to ever leave a wheelchair, to be forever dependent on others for his mobility. The dedication of the team is clearly demonstrated here with Ebrima who has lived with Jackie since 2nd December 2022, whose nutritional status is now normal, a little boy terribly traumatised is now thriving. His skin graft donor site continues to heal and we are all so happy for him.

He will soon be having xrays to see if the fibula transplant has taken and we will then be clearer on his future.

29 April 2023: 

Today Ebrima had his xrays done some 7 weeks post fibula transplant to see if the transplanted bone was starting to 'take'

Unfortunately for Ebrima Dr Marenah is not in the country so he was not able to be reviewed so we shall await the outcome regarding "what next" with bated breathe.

Has the transplant worked ?

If not then amputation would be the only option.

If it is working should the plaster be changed ?

Kept at full length or reduced to below knee?

Hopefully the xrays will be reviewed remotely and we should soon find out more.

The bone is clearly still in alignment though very fragile and continues to need a lot of 'protection ' and good care, no weight-bearing for a very long time yet.

12 May 2023:

As You can see, at long long last the skin graft site is eventually healing. This skin was taken in early June last year and when Ebrima moved to Jackie's house on 2nd Dec 22 it was deep and terribly infected. NOW a whopping 161 days later it is almost closed. A nurse has been visiting every 2 days, thats over 80 (paid) dressing changes at approx £8.50 per time plus the dressing materials. . . Yes, that is a LOT of money, but if left then we dread to think what would have happened to this little boy.

Now the not so good news. Ebrima is in the awful state he is because of an infection called osteomyelitis which was left untreated for a very long time it ate away his foot and ankle joint, a lot of his knee and his hand and arm all on his 'good side' as well as eating away a large chunk of his tibia bone which led to the fibula transplant in March of this year.

We thought the infection had cleared some considerable time ago but this past 2 weeks the team have been battling with what appears to be a fresh outbreak just under his right arm.

This has lead to cleaning, packing and dressing 3x every day. Thankfully the foul smelling discharge pouring from the area appears to be subsiding. This area may need to be surgically opened and the bone 'scraped' to clear the infection properly.

The team continues to await review by Dr Marenah on both this and to find out if the fibula transplant has actually worked.

 

This poor little lad has really been through so much and yet he continues to smile.

17 May 2023:

Dr Marenah (and the British Surgeons) are happy with Ebrimas recent xrays and confirm there is no sign of the transplant failing. On Saturday his full leg plaster will be reduced to below knee though none weight bearing, for a further 4 to 6 weeks.

THEN changed to a partial weight bearing (or an Orthopeadic Boot) for a minimum of 6 months. What fantastic news. . .

SADLY there is some not so good news for this little lad. Most of his body was riddled with massive osteomyelitis which caused all of these problems in the first place. It would appear the nasty, rotten infection has reactivated at the top of and under his right arm. The poison is literally running out despite dressings being changed 3x per day.

 

Ebrima will have an xray at Westfield on Saturday when he attends to have his plaster cast changed. Dr Marenah wants to see what's happening with this infection and find a way forward with its treatment. Ebrima is now losing weight likely due to this infection and this is all an added worry.

20 May 2023: 

Little EBRIMA has now progressed from a full leg POP to a below knee plaster and he is absolutly thrilled. 4 to 6 more weeks then the plaster can come off and he can then start (partial) weight bearing in an orthopaedic boot on this leg which is where he had the fibula transplant in early March.

He celebrated with a hair cut and a big fat sticky donut and why not?

SADLY the news is not so straight forward with regards to his active osteomyelitis. The xray does not give a definitive answer and was reviewed immediately by Dr Marenah who recommends an MRI scan as the infection could he in his upper chest area. An MRI scan will definitely be able to confirm where this infection is sitting, so they really need to get this done which will of course cost ...

This little lad has been through so so much, he has come so very far and made so much progress, at times even "against the odds" but he still has so far to go yet and the fact the infection has reactivated really could be a huge issue. Until we get the MRI things will continue to hang in the balance.

25 June 2023:
YESTERDAY WAS A MASSIVE MILESTONE FOR EBRIMA as well as for Jackie and Baboucar. 

AT LONG LAST Ebrima has had his plaster cast removed and is now able to stand on his own 2 legs with the aid of an orthopaedic boot, for the FIRST time in over 2 years this little boy is now relearning to walk.

His body was ravaged by the terrible osteomyelitis infection that has eaten a lot of his tibia, ankle, wrist, elbow and shoulder. He had a massive skin graft and the site would not heal. He had several operations and was left with a massive metal external fixation on his leg for over 9 months with no hope of removing it until Gam Med stepped in via Dr Kebba Marenah and undertook a fibula transplant to give this boy some hope for the future.

It has been a very long haul for the team who has been involved with Ebrima since last June. He has been at Jackie's house since the 2nd December and the cost for his 24hr care, all his wound care and medical care has been very significant for this small charity. The dedication and commitment from the team has been above and beyond what anyone would expect considering the ongoing home visits, monitoring and residential rehabilitation of the child amputees that has continued throughout.

Ebrima has battled against all the odds and to now see him up on 2 legs relearning how to walk is just overwhelming and soon he will be able to return to his fathers care.

15 June 2023:

We posted earlier that the large wound on his thigh has at long last fully closed.

The damage to Ebrimas body has been caused by an infection called osteomyelitis which really has ravaged him. The infection seemed under control and he was 'dry ' until there was a rupture at the top of his arm towards his chest wall where poison has poured out for weeks on end. Of course he has been medically reviewed, an xray was clear that the infection was NOT in his arm or shoulder. An MRI scan was done 2 weeks ago to see if the site of the infection could be found. Jackie is STILL waiting for the MRI report which has been greatly delayed due to the relevant staff being on a workshop.

Jackie has been informed, "maybe next week"

On a brighter note, just one more week and Ebrima can have his plaster cast removed which has been in place since his fibula transplant by Gam Med on 7th March this year.

Once out of plaster Ebrima will wear an Orthopeadic boot and will, at very long last, be up on 2 legs again.

1 July 2023:

TODAY MARKS A NEW CHAPTER IN EBRIMA'S LIFE.

EBRIMA HAS RETURNED TO HIS FATHER WHO IS TAKING HIM HOME WITH HIM TO BASSE TODAY.

As an organisation The GLOVE Project strongly advised against this and did all they could to facilitate the father staying in the more local area so that we could monitor Ebrima and so as he had access to health care. Jackie and Baboucar went as far as to advise the father that moving his child to Basse could have big implications for EBRIMA'S health.

At the end of the day all they can do is advise and recommend, the final decision is with Ebrimas father and as such, they are currently enrolled to the far end of the country.

Ebrima has overcome so so much, he has most certainly "beaten the odds " as it were and we wish him a continued recovery and much happiness. This is the first time Ebrima has been back under his fathers care since February 2022. 8 months in Hospital and a full 7 months at Jackie's house, it has been a long and traumatic journey for this darling little boy.

15 September 2023:

EBRIMA has been back for his outpatients appointment at Banjul Hospital travelling all the way from Basse. Unfortunately, Dr Marenah was not in clinic so he has been given another appointment for the end of September to be seen.

The team was a little disappointed that Ebrima's walking has detiorated since leaving the project house on the 1st July. Baboucar had a long chat with both Ebrima and his father reminding them how crucial it is to continue the exercises and walking practice if his mobility is to be improved.

 

30 September 2023:

EBRIMA HAS ATTENDED HIS OUTPATIENTS APPOINTMEMT TO SEE DR MARENAH.

Unfortunately, Dr Marena was not in clinic and Ebrima was reviewed by A Cuban Professor who has recently taken up post in Banjul from Farafenni. Unfortunately Xrays are showing there is a "bit of an issue" with the transplanted bone since Ebrima has returned to his home in Basse. As far as we can understand, this is not critical at the moment but as a precaution Ebrima has been asked to revert back to using 2 crutches in order to lessen the weight bearing on this leg.

The amazing Gam Med team who carried out this bone transplant are returning to the Gambia in November and will hopefully be able to review Ebrima and advise on the situation.

Baboucar spent considerable time talking to both Ebrima and his father and advising them on taking care of this leg. Ebrima was also given a good supply of nutritional drinks to supplement his diet, thanks to Mary French for donating these drinks which make such a difference.

14 November 2023:

"POOR EBRIMA. Today we received this xray of Ebrima's leg which recently underwent surgery by the Gam Med team. The xray looks as though the bone that was transplanted in March of this year has been removed although we are not Drs of course. We also know you will all have many questions such as,

"has the transplanted bone been removed"

"if so why"

"what is the surgery scheduled for 6 months time for"

"what is the prognosis for Ebrima's leg"

"would it not be much better in the long run for Ebrima to have this lower leg amputated and have a prosthetic"

"where is he going to live and who is going to care for him"

Sadly, we are not able to answer the medical questions and Jackie has messaged the Gam Med team several days ago to try to get more information so that we are better placed to offer Ebrima the most appropriate care that we can. This is with the full permission of Ebrima's father, we understand Jackie is still waiting for a reply from the Gam Med team."

24 November 2023:

EBRIMA HAS LEFT HOSPITAL AND IS NOW AT THE PROJECT HOUSE WITH JACKIE.

This little boy has gone through so much yet his smile touches your heart. He has so far to go and so many surgeries ahead of him it is just unimaginable. Yet STILL he smiles...

Once Ebrima was settled and the dogs had finished their greetings, Jackie and Baboucar say down with the father and explained everything the surgeons had said in their recent message to Jackie Church regarding Ebrima's leg and all the future treatments and surgeries that he will likely need as well as how long this will all take.

Ebrima's father apparently cried, he was so distraught to hear this news saying "How can I put my child through this, I just can't do this to him and watch him suffer over and over"

"He has already had so many operations and has suffered so much this past 2 years."

He went on to say that he "had absolutly no idea of any of this"

and that his understanding was

"that the iron has to stay on Ebrima's leg for 6 months and then a operation to take it off and all will be fine with his leg."

Ebrima's father states he is eternally grateful to The Glove Project and the care they have given and are giving, to his young son stating, "I could not have done any of this without GLOVE, I am not even sure Ebrima would have survived without your help"

Jackie and Baboucar will give Ebrima's father the support he needs and will care for Ebrima to the best of their abilities.

As well as needing 24 hours care and support Ebrima has lost a lot of weight and looks like an 8 or 9 year old child not a teenager of almost 14 years. As well as intensive medical care Ebrima also needs a high protein and high calorie diet along with heaps of TLC.


24 January 2024:

Ebrima, the little boy ravished by osteomyelitis as he was not taken for hospital treatment following a broken lower leg. He did not receive appropriate treatment for more than 6 months, likely nearer a year. He suffered the most terrible neglect followed by numerous surgeries and 8 months in hospital. His life was saved but his trauma was not finished.

Drs and surgeons have gallantly battled to save Ebrima's life and his leg including the British team Gam Med and Dr Marenah. Ebrima spent 8 months at the project house last year, he has been back there since Jackie returned on 23td November having had further surgery by Gam Med. The bone transplant that was undertaken last March had failed, several more surgeries have been planned, likely taking a good 18 plus months. Ebrima is suffering, his father is a single working parent and their home has been at the opposite side of the country where Ebrima can not receive the medical or home care that he needs. There is no extended family in Gambia, his father is a none Gambian.

There are no effective social services, child care facilities or the likes in the Gambia, what a terrible situation.

EBRIMA'S leg is infected, he is in a lot of pain and was taken to Ndemban Hospital on Monday morning where antibiotics and strong pain killers were prescribed by Dr Marenah and his team.

Yesterday, Dr Marenah met with EBRIMA'S father, Jackie and the project manager and the difficult decision was made for Ebrimas leg to be amputated.

Ebrima has suffered terrible trauma during his lengthy stays in hospital, the very nature of the damage and open wounds caused by his body being ravaged by infection making all dressing changes extremely painful. Because of this, and in order to reduce further trauma and reawakening terrible memories the decision has been taken that the amputation will take place at a private hospital. We are sure you will agree that this will be far better for Ebrimas mental health.

The surgery is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 3rd February.

02 February 2024:

A SHORT BUT SWEET MESSAGE FROM EBRIMA AS HE LEAVES TO GO TO HOSPITAL WITH Jackie Church .

TOMORROW HIS LEG WILL BE AMPUTATED.

03 February 2024:

EBRIMA IS PAIN FREE AND DOING WELL.

We can finally report that Ebrima's surgery is over and has gone well. His amputated leg has been buried by Baboucarr Sonko and Ebrima's father in line with their religious beliefs and Ebrima is wide awake, full of smiles and full of good pain killers.

05 February 2024:

EBRIMA IS RECOVERING WELL.

Jackie Church has continued to be by Ebrimas side and as you can see from the video he is up and about and doing physio.

Pain free and now taking oral pain killers he will hopefully be back at the project house tomorrow where he will receive the best possible care ..... and be spoilt a bit.

06 February 2024:

EBRIMA IS OUT OF HOSPITAL.

He has had a lot of vomiting today due to pain meds so is not his usual bright and breeze self though that will soon pass. As Ebrima himself says, a Very BIG Thankyou to Dr Marenah.

11 February 2024:

7 DAYS POST AMPUTATION.

Ebrima is doing fantastic within himself, he has no pain, is no longer requiring any pain relief, is eating well and in good spirits. Tomorrow he will be having a hair cut which he is very much looking forward to. Sadly, Ebrima had to be taken back to Hospital for an addituonal review by the wonderful Dr Marenah yesterday as his dressings were soaked and the smell was terrible. As you can see from the photo, the wound has started to reopen / breakdown. This has absolutly nothing to do with the quality of surgery nor the stitching which were of course, excellent. This is more to do with Ebrima's complex history of massive chronic osteomyelitis as well as the recent very high temperatures and humidity.

Ebrima's healing capacity is significantly compromised, we expected poor healing and no doubt this wound is going to open further and his healing will be slow. The team, along with Dr Marenah will continue to do their very best.

19 February 2023:

Sadly, Ebrima has taken a tumble on his crutches and fallen heavily onto his knees. He did not put his hands down to break his fall and as a result he has a small chip in his bone just above his knee on his amputated leg and is in a back slab and currently wheelchair bound.

There is a question mark over potential injury to his remaining leg, a possible fracture there but lateral xrays were not possible due to Ebrima's level of discomfort. These will be re attempted tomorrow. This awful accident will put Ebrimas post amputation recovery back a good 6 to 8 weeks.

Further, Dr Marenah explained that when the sutures in Ebrima's wound are removed (tomorrow) the whole area may well breakdown and this could result in a skin graft being needed to repair the area. Ebrima also needs surgery to correct his knee on his remaining leg which was ravaged by infection, nothing to do with his fall.

 

The team in Gambia are distraught at what has happened and what is happening for Ebrima. Clearly Ebrima is needing a massive amount of care and support and this is clearly going to remain the case for at least the next 2 to 3 months.

29 February 2024:

Ebrima has been reviewed By Dr Marenah this evening and he is pleased with his progress. The wound from the amputation is not pretty but, surprisingly it is not deep and is not now infected. It is definitely better than was expected. Ebrima will continue to require wound care and dressings changed every 2 days and the team has a good wound care nurse to visit the house to do this thanks to your donations.

Ebrimas leg has to remain with a back slab and he is to remain none weight bearing for a further 4 weeks when further xrays and review will take place. The high level 24 hour care for Ebrima is going to be needed for at least the next 2 months and the decision will be made at the next review regarding surgery on the knee of his remaining leg.

Despite all of this, Ebrima is back in good spirits and full of smiles.

Taking care of Ebrima and his complex needs is very demanding but Jackie Church and the team in Gambia will continue to do the very best that they can.

We'll keep you updated on Ebrima's and the other children's progress.
If you would like to send a donation to this project or specifically Ebrima, please let us know (reason for transfer). We'll make sure all these donations will reach The GLOVE Project.

 

 

ABOUT THE CHILD AMPUTEE PROGRAMME

Here in The Gambia those with disabilities are frequently marginalised, ostracised, socially isolated and many (children) are abandoned. There is no Government assistance and generally the cultural and societal belief is that these people can achieve little more than being street beggar’s.

This is the harsh reality.

The Glove Project's Juvinille Amputee Programme started in February 2019 when they came across 15yr old Dembo. Child Amputees are frequently not at school, being deemed unworthy of the expense of uniform, books, shoes etc in a Country where money is a scarce commodity. Why spend scarce resources on a child  deemed unlikely to become anything other than a street beggar.  These children are frequently neglected and hidden away.

 

 

THE PROSTHETICS

Are old and cumbersome, heavy and ugly frequently the children sizes are not available and the team have to cobble things together. Whilst these are free the sockets to fit the stump have to be molded and made to fit the individual and it is these materials which have to be paid for as well as transport to and from the prosthetic centre in Banjul.

 

 

HOW THE GLOVE PROJECT DOES THIS

"Spend time visiting the child and care givers at their home, the children are rarely with their mothers and fathers, rather  with extended family, frequently living in abject poverty.

Purchasing the fitting of a prosthetic leg and rehabilitation onto that leg.

Ensuring the child has a place at a school, funding uniform, books and all necessary equipment. At times including school feeding if under nourished which most are.

Purchasing bicycles to promote mobility and social standing. To have a bike is a considerable achievement here and quite a status symbol for a child.

The distances to school are frequently too far to walk on the old prosthetic legs that are available and without a bicycle, attending school would not be an option for most of these children.

Supplying sacks of rice which is the staple food, to the family so as the child is seen to be of some value and to promote improved nutrition.

When donations allow clothes and shoes are given.

We undertake regular home visits to monitor the child and to encourage acceptance and value by the family, promoting love and involvement by the local community.

We find and fund apprenticeships for the older children.

 

We monitor growth and fund replacement prosthetic fitting as the child outgrows their limbs. New prosthetic limbs are needed approx. every 6 to 9 month depending on growth rate. We monitor for bones growing through the amputation site and arrange and escort for Orthopeadic reviews. This may mean re amputation or trimming of the growing bones is necessary and timely intervention is required along with intensive post operation care."

Text and photos mainly by The GLOVE Project

 

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