A
newly constructed fully fledged (D10M) health centre, containing modern
facilities, was inaugurated over the weekend at Giboro-kuta in Kombo East, West
Coast Region.
The
aim of erecting the health centre was to address the demand of the community of
Giboro-kuta, especially pregnant women, allowing them to have easy access to
services and reduce long travelling times in search of treatment.
The
health centre was constructed by Mustapha Jarju, a native of Giboro-kuta, in
partnership with his counterpart philanthropist Antoinette Van De Water and her
daughter Rebecca Van de Water who are based in Holland.
They
have also built a new nursery school called Barbara Memorial Nursery school.
Furthermore they constructed a school and a skills centre in Giboro-kuta
village along with other forms of support key to the development of the
community of Giboro-kuta.
Speaking
at the inaugural ceremony, Mustapha Jarjue, the link coordinator of this
foundation, said the project started in 2000.
He
said they visited Giboro-Kuta Village and found there was a need to support the
community in many areas such as Education and Health.
He
said he and his friend in Holland decided to upgrade the health centre, build a
nursery school, create a skills training centre for school dropouts in the
community to avoid them being forced to get married.
They
also built a deaf school to ensure that disabled people have access to
education and enjoy other social amenities.
According
to Mr Jarjue, the aim was to help the people of the community, especially
pregnant women, to avoid traveling long distances to hospital.
He
also stated that he and his team deem it fitting to operate a nursery school,
and deaf school as there are a lot of people living with disabilities in the
village.
“We
also offer the students the necessary skills to become more productive in the
future and such opportunity including having access to training in skills such
as tailoring.
Mr
Jarjue also disclosed that the Foundation fenced a two-hectare garden for the
women. “Children have also benefitted. They have been provided with learning
materials and have been fed at school every day. Uniforms have also been provided and it all
comes at no financial cost to parents,” he said.
Mr
Jarjue mentioned future plans of investing in the village in a bid to
eradicating poverty in and outside Giboro-kuta.
Also
speaking at the inauguration the headmaster of the school, Momodou Jarjue,
expressed appreciation for having the newly constructed nursery school in
Giboro-kuta which he said is a plus for the development of the village.
Mr
Jarjue urged Gambians, especially those living in the diaspora, to supplement
the government’s development efforts to, “boost community, our motherland and
our future children”.
He
said considering the contribution of Mustapha Jarjue towards the development of
the community of Giboro-Kuta, other patriotic Gambians should endeavour to
emulate his goodwill gesture and support the needy community and the country.
The
headmaster said: “I seize this opportunity to commend him for his contribution
towards nation building along with his counterpart and friend and I assure you
that the Barbara Nursery school will be fully taking care of to ensure children
have good quality education there.”
For
her part, Antoinette VD Water, the lead philanthropist based in Holland, said
she is delighted to support the community of Giboro-Kuta and, by extension, the
people of The Gambia.
She
described Gambian people as very hospitable. She said there are plans, in
partnership with Mustapha Jarjue and the headmaster, to see how best to provide
more support for the community of Giboro-Kuta.
