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These are the eminent alumni of the Gambia School of Public and Environmental Health. At a time when the profession was dominated by male Public Health Officers and Administrators. Ida and Margaret were bold and very courageous to join and compete with their male counterparts that included, Amadou Faal, Baboucarr Cham, Bakary Darboe, Basiru Nicol, Hassan Njie, Karapha Manneh and Philip Saine.
These were the 2nd Class of students admitted at the School of Public Health then located at No 3E Marina Parade in Banjul.
Indeed they are great people and have imparted so much to the service of Public & Environmental Health in The Gambia. During the training the two ladies exhibited great knowledge and likings for building science, control of communicable diseases and practical work. Both students and lecturers would not forget when monthly they would contribute funds and the two elegant ladies make refreshing coffee and snacks prepared and served during the break periods.
They graduated in 1974 and were the first trained and certified Female Public Health Officers in the West African Region. The two became the profession’s noble idols, role models and shining stars in the female cadre. They were disciplined and performed with excellence.
Ida and Margaret were both achievers and erased the stereotype notion that Public and Environmental Health is a male occupation. They are exceptional Gambian women and deserve to be honoured and celebrated. They made the Gambia proud in the region.