OPEN LETTER TO Dr. Mustapha Bittaye (Director of Health Services, Ministry of Health)
Dear Dr. Bittaye, During this Covid-19, things get too critical to set the tone for treatment of this virus. Pandemics tend to bring out the best and worst of all of us. Innately we all want to protect ourselves and our families. However, you and all other healthcare workers across the country never for a moment have wondered if they should return home to stay safe with their families who are in need of them too. It has been weeks now, since you left your family to be in the frontline in making sure everyone receives the required support they need in this crisis.
You knew you were going into a battle. You walked into the scene with confidence, empathy and humility to provide the best care you could to each of your brave healthcare workers.
In this trying time, the Kanifing Municipal Red Cross Branch under the Gambia Red Cross Society would love to send you our support and prayers throughout this crisis. We want you to know that, we care about you today than ever before, and the Red Cross fraternity shall never forget about you even a second.
We know very well that, all eyes and hopes are in the Ministry you're serving as the Director of Health Services. But, we would like to remind you that, the spirit of humanitarianism which the Kanifing Municipal Red Cross Branch of the Gambia Red Cross Society has instilled in you is still inside you, and it's powerful today than it was yesterday. We know this trying time can create stress for every pure soul like yours. Thus, remember to manifest your Psychological First Aid skills (Caring for Yourself) to enable you cope with the situation that arises in your day to day activities. We believe you already know that one way of coping with stress is to express what you are feeling.
Dr. Bittaye, we know that you're a decent soul, from a decent background (family) and serving decent institutions (Red Cross & Ministry of Health). So, what ever happened or will happen in this trying time, kindly paint them in your lifetime book, and note that not everything in White House is purely white. During pandemics, there are Situational Whites that keep on changing from white to other colors.
We believe that ultimately we all care about each other and want the best for everyone here. The only way to get through a war is to work together on the battlefield. We want to assure you that, we are in this fight together!
We once again pray for Allah to protect you and your entire team during Covid-19.
In the services of the most vulnerable, we remain.
KM Red Cross Branch.
