The event was presided over by the ambassador of Germany, designated to The Gambia, Klaus Botzet.
The project courtesy of Y Bah Family led by Ousman Y Bah is being hailed by many as a lifechanging one, in view of the growing shortage of dental professional to meet the growing need of the population.
However, this new State-of the Art Dental Clinic is meant to respond to growing demand of the people especially those in hard-to-reach areas or finds it difficult to access health facility in times of urgent need.
Addressing the gathering, Musa Camara, Director of Health Services for the Western One Health Region, acknowledged that the event marks another new chapter in their commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of every individual.
He emphasized that access to healthcare is a fundamental human right, pointing out that everyone should have access to the healthcare services necessary for improved health, well-being, and socio-economic development.
"The goal of establishing such healthcare facilities is to enhance community health by providing affordable and accessible healthcare to the populace." he continued.
Camara thus expressed gratitude on behalf of the sponsors - Y Bah Family and their associated donors for their initiative, which he said, would greatly complements the Ministry’s efforts in attaining Universal Health Coverage.
Additionally, Camara acknowledged the challenges communities face in accessing healthcare and further commended idea of the objective of bridging those gaps in healthcare interventions.
As a sector dedicated to development, he said the Ministry is committed to creating an equitable environment for service delivery, ensuring that everyone feels welcomed and cared for in the pursuit of health for all, he stated.
He thus called on all and organizations to emulate the sponsors in combining their efforts towards meeting the Universal Health Coverage.
Prof. A R Jordan, a friend to the sponsor, took audience on a brief journey dating back to 1994, a year notable for Nelson Mandela's inauguration as President of South Africa, which also a turning point in Gambia’s political landscape.
He made reference to the fact that at the time dental care was not a significant concern in The Gambia, as compared to many other African countries.
"There was no academic training for dentists, and only a few dentists, trained abroad, offered dental services primarily to privileged individuals along the coast. General dental care was limited to the old military hospital in Banjul and the Basang hospital."
Ousman Y Bah, proprietor and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the new health facility, described the day as another important milestone for him and his family, as he had not anticipated this day would come to fruition.
He reflected on the time he underwent training and building a lasting relationship with Jordan, saying he always reflects on how he can help the Gambian people.
For his part, Klaus Botzet, ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany, designated to The Gambia, thanked Mr. Ousman Y Bah for his commendable work and the trust he has maintained with his friend Jordan.
Ambassador Botzet reminded that to achieve success, one must persevere and disregard negative comments from others, praising Ousman for his contributions to the country.
To this end, he called on all Gambians to unite in support of Y Bah so he can fulfill his vision to assist the Gambian people, describing his latest project as a noble dream.
Finally, he urged the government to support the Y Bah Foundation to ensure the clinic can continue operating smoothly, as he seeks additional support from anyone who can provide it.
