Safe Route To School Program launched in Gambia
Save Life Gambia in partnership with Medicare clinic and Maarif International School Gambia launched a new project "Safe Routes to School" on Friday, 7 October 2022. The main aim of the Safe Routes to School project is to create safer walking and cycling environment for students and introduce them to sustainable modes of travel to go to school. The project is designed to support active travel Infrastructure for the schools’ communities in The Gambia.
Mamadou Gassama, a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), in the Gambia said that the initiative is welcomed by WHO.
“We are all looking for people to come together to save lives because road traffic crashes are the leading killer of young people between the ages of 5 and 29 years,” he stated. “walking and cycling to school is fun but also gives you the opportunity to know more about the community you live in” he added.
Mr. Mamadou hailed Save Life Gambia for the commendable initiative and encouraged students to be responsive and follow more sustainable travel modes.
Representatives of the Medicare clinic and Maarif International School in the Gambia, partners of this project also expressed a similar sentiment. They said:
”School children need more than zebra crossings in front of their school gates, they also need something reflective such as Hi-Vis vests to increase their visibility when they are walking to school.”
They went further to encourage drivers to share the roads equally with pedestrians, especially children who are more vulnerable. They also challenged the government of the Gambia to consider children and other pedestrians' safety when constructing roads.
Mr. Dawda Bah, a member of the Global Youth Coalition, who is also the founder, and executive director of Save Life Gambia said:
“The Safe Route to School program is part of our schools' road safety campaigns working to provide better infrastructure for schools communities in the Gambia.”
