By Yunus S Saliu
As part of its efforts to ensure effective health service delivery and sustainable retention of health staff in the health sector, the Serrekunda Minor Health Center, on Saturday, 28th October 2023 held its annual Data and Award Presentation Night at the Ebunjan Theatre, Kanifing.
The event was well attended and brought together staff, management, board members, and other stakeholders from different hospitals and was witnessed by residents of locations of the health center.
In his official keynote address, Mr Musa Camara, Director of Health Services Western 1 gave a brief background of the health center saying it was established in the late 70s and is a minor public health facility that provides health care services to a wider range of communities beyond its operational catchment area.
The health center, he said, 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.
He counted on the hospital success stories and achievements which included construction of a waiting shed for RMNCAH services and an outpatient department initiated by the health facility staff in collaboration with the Regional health Directorate through support from Results based Financing (RBF),
Among other achievements he noted National equipment and incinerators for clinical waste management provided by MOH through funding support from the World Bank and “with the advent of the National Health Insurance Scheme, development initiaitives of health facilities will be sustainably managed.”
The Director of Health Services Western 1 expressed that the Ministry of health in collaboration with stakeholders and support from government under the leadership of His Excellency President Adama Barrow, will continue to support effective and efficient health service delivery in order to attain the sustainable development goals (SDGs) for health.
On behalf of the Serrekunda minor health Center and region he thanked the UNFPA, WB, NAS, Philanthropists, MOH and other stakeholders for contributing their quota towards the structural transformation of Serrekunda Minor Health Center while counting on others to follow suit.
David Juior Daye – Officer in Charge, and Dr jorjoh NdureTambedou CEO of Insist Global Gambia, Binta BS Suwareh of the Sereklunda Minor Health Center delivered remarkably statements with different presentations from the officials of the health center while several of the staff received awards and certificates on different categories.