The event was designed to recognise and award staff, who have work tremendously, over the past years contributing to the growth and development of the institution.
At the event, David Junior Daye, Officer-in-Charge of Serrekunda Minor Health Centre, explained that they gathered not only to celebrate, but to review their data and statistics and other important components for improvement.
He also reminded that the annual gathering did not accord them the opportunity to recognise hardworking staff, but to also review some the progress they have made as an institution.
For his part, Musa Camara, Director of Health Services Western 1, gave a brief background of the health center, recalling that the health facility was established in the late 70s and is a minor public health facility that provides health care services to a wide range of communities beyond its operational catchment area.
“It has a serving population of 127,690 with ten (10) nurse midwives conducting 250 to 265 deliveries per month on shift duties and 3000 to 3180 deliveries per year.”
Camara also dwelled on some of achievements and infrastructure development the facility has undergone, which he said, included construction of a waiting shed for RMNCAH services and an out-patient department initiated by the health facility staff in collaboration with the Regional Health Directorate through support from Results-based Financing (RBF).
He also assured that the Ministry of Health in collaboration with stakeholders and with support from government will continue to support to ensure effective and efficient health service delivery at the facility.
That, he believes, would also enable them to attain or meet their targets as enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for health.
He equally expressed appreciation to their partners such as UNFPA, World Bank, National Aids Secretariat, Ministry of Health and other philanthropists, who have supported the institution in the past.
Delivering on the topic ‘Empowering Wellness Excellence; Celebrating Dedication and Innovation in Health Care’ as guest speaker, Dr. Jorjoh Ndure Tambedou, CEO of Insist Global Gambia, shared with dignitaries some basic facts currently hindering the growth of the continent.
She reminded that in the next few decades, half of the world population will come from Africa, further underscoring the importance of vocational skills training in this day and age.
She noted that it is time for people on the continent to embrace innovation and technology amid the fast-developing tech world.
Insist Global CEO also acknowledged that people are spending more time in formal education and that it’s time for people also focus more time in vocation skills training to drive innovation.
The continent, she acknowledged, currently has a youthful and the fastest growing population than any continent, something that already given the continent a demography dividend.
“And there are two trajectories, it can be a dividend for us or it can be disaster. What do we choose lies in our own hands. Currently, the latest report says cash flows in Africa were from remittances.”
She thus called on people to start initiating meaningful projects and drive change and it was time for people do away with the notion of waiting for government support.
She spoke at length with some facts about innovation and skills training to be self-reliant.
Other speakers at the event included Binta B.S. Suwareh of the Serrekunda Minor Health Center. The event was characterised with entertainment and awards of certificates to deserving staff for their hard work and dedication.
