Fass
Njaga Choi maternity ward was last Sunday inaugurated at a colorful ceremony
held at the community’s health post in Lower Nuimi District, North Bank Region.
The
construction of the maternity ward was initiated by the community of Fass and
its surrounding villages to support access to health facilities especially for
women within the area, with financial support from HELPING Charity, A UK-based
charity.
The
maternity ward consists of one big outpatient room, two delivery rooms and two
office spaces.
Muhammed
Lamin Jaiteh, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
in his remarks commended HELPING Charity and the beneficiary communities for
complementing government efforts in taking the health sector to the desired
level.
According
to PS Jaiteh, his ministry is passionate and interested in reaching out to
communities across the country and facilitating quality health care services
and bringing health care services to the doorstep of every Gambian.
“Lots
of things are in the pipeline to strengthen community health facilities in the
country,” he said.
Rose
Mary, a HELPING Charity UK committee member said they spent over seven hundred
thousand dalasis towards helping the VDC to complete the building as well as
the purchase of other facilities within the ward.
According
to her, they have been supporting Gambian communities for over 20 years and
sponsoring over 400 students, saying the new ward will provide safer
childbirth.
Baboucarr
Nyang, HELPING Charity deputy board chairperson said they have been supporting
Gambia’s health care system with numerous materials and structures to
strengthen the capacity of health officials and facilities to support safer
motherhood.
According
to tom, although maternal mortality has been halved between the periods 2001 to
2013, the number of preventable maternal death in women still remains far above
SDG global target of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births,
saying maternal mortality accounts for 36% of all deaths among women in
reproductive age in the country.
Mr.
Nyang said infant mortality on the other hand, though significantly dropped
from 75 to 34 deaths per 1000 live births during the periods 2001 to 2013,
still falls short of the global target of at least 25 deaths per 1000 live
births.
“We
therefore hope that the maternity ward will go a long way in reliving the high
demand for the Essau district hospital which was the most concentrated clinic
in the area as a delivery center”, he said.
Awa
Bojang, officer in charge of the clinic described the opening of the maternity
ward as a dream come true and thanked HELPING Charity for helping improve the
living condition of Gambians.
Alkalo
of Fass Njaga Choi, Wally Joof said they needed the maternity ward, looking at
the number of communities the clinic is serving. He appealed to the government
to upgrade the clinic to a health center and provide an ambulance that will be
permanently stationed at the clinic, more nurses, laboratory services, a
watchman, a laundry room, cleaners, among other valuable materials.
Village
Development Committee (VDC) chairperson Fatou Sonko commended HELPING Charity
for their support to various sectors over the years. She also hailed her
committee members for their steadfastness, commitment and hard work as well as
communities who contributed to the construction of the ward.
