Some soldiers of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) have been praised for rolling up their sleeves to help save lives by donating blood. 

Amie Jarjue of Join Hands 2 Save a Baby was among the first to heap praise on the soldiers, saying "the national army is not only here to ensure the country is protected but also safeguarding lives."  

She disclosed the blood donated is for the Maternal Blood Bank project, which was recently launched.  

"The First Lady Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow was the first woman and citizen to donate blood to this project and now it feels amazing observing our country’s women and men in uniform and in the communities following in the footsteps of our First Lady in donating blood to save the lives of our women and babies across the maternity units," she said.  

Amie, who lives in the United Kingdom, added: "In the last few weeks our ground team members have actively been working tirelessly behind the scene putting together all the measures needed to gain success with the Maternal Blood Bank project." 

Join Hands 2 Save a Baby seeks to provide blood across The Gambia in an attempt to augment the country’s hospitals and health professionals in their efforts to curb maternal deaths.