Yajai Jeng Nyan
A Woman Technician
Friday 7th September 2007

Who say women are only good to be housewives or mothers; only to look after children and take care of homes? I say no.  Women are really good in any job one can think of. Imagine a lady being an orthopedic technician, a job well-suited for the men because it’s a man power work.

But there is this ambitious and caring lady, who among all the women in this country, try to get herself into this work. This is no other person than Mrs. Ya Jai Jeng-Nyan,

Truly speaking, women are doing extremely well in all sectors. Though they continue to be commended by some people, they better-still need more recommendations because they are ready to work hard in order to contribute their quota to national development. Despite all the hard work and caring they do, yet still they are engaged in doing extra job.

Ya Jai Jeng-Nyan is a good example. She is a mother, a house-wife and at the same time an orthopedic technician.

Ambitious Ya Jai was born in Banjul. She attended her primary and junior schools in Banjul and later to Gambia High School. Upon completion of her high school education, she then went to a vocational centre where she was trained as an engineer. Upon completion of her two years training with the centre, Ya Jai then went into teaching field where she taught for ten years. She later worked at dock yard at the Gambia Ports Authority. In 1991, Mrs. Nyan joined the Social Welfare department as a social worker but was designated to orthopedic.

For on Yai, please read the interview she granted us in her office.

SHE SHE: Where did you learn to become an orthopedic technician?

YA JAI: I learned it in The Gambia. I have been doing an in-house training. We were having a Swedish trainer who used to train us at Red Cross and at the rehabilitation centre here.

SHE SHE: How many females are working here as orthopedic technicians?

YA JAI: Presently, I’m the only female orthopedic technician.

SHE SHE: What are some of the constraints in your work?

YA JAI: The starting is always difficult but as time goes on, one will start to like it. The job is not easy because it’s a man-power job.

SHE SHE: Can you tell me more about your job?

YA JAI: I do work for so many people because here is a rehabilitation centre where we rehabilitate the disabled. We have three types of amputees- below knee, above knee and true knee. We also do prosthesis if the materials are available, I also used to do drop foot splint cervical collars, shoe-raising for short knees. I do braces for polio victims too.

SHE SHE: Do you have any girl(s) that you train for them to be like you in future?

YA JAI: No girls yet but any interested person can come as my door is open for everybody. I’ve been here since 1991 but I’ve never seen anybody who comes here for training.

SHE SHE: What inspired you into this job?

YA JAI: I was inspired by this job when I first came here. I saw somebody with crutches with an amputee. He came in and by the time he was leaving I saw him walking as normal. So that gave me the real interest to become an orthopedic. And as a mother, I feel sympathetic to disabled people and so I said to myself I must try and know how to do this work so that I can help people because anybody can be a disabled like today is someone and tomorrow can be anyone else. So if you help some people, others may help you when you are in their position.

SHE SHE: Do people pay for this?

YA JAI: The service is free. We work for everybody no matter where you come from. I even used to make artificial limbs for people going to Mecca and they will perform their hajj and come back and they will not be charged for any cost.

SHE SHE: What advice do you have for your fellow women?

Ya JAI: My advice is let everybody try and learn a skill as it will help you in the future because you will be able to do things for yourself and can gain a lot of benefit out of it. In anything we do, lets do it with hard work and commitment.  

SHE SHE: Thank you for the interview.

YA JAI: It’s a pleasure.