By: Binta Jaiteh
The Gambia Aid Foundation, a UK-based charitable organization, has donated an ambulance to the Tujereng community through the Village Development Committee (VDC).
The Public Relations Officer of Tujereng VDC, Lamin Bojang, emphasized that the initiatives of the VDC have been positively impacting on the community over the past few years.
“The VDC has actively engaged in numerous projects to enhance the health services available to our community,” he stated, highlighting that about 80% of the construction of the structures at the community health centre were funded through the VDC and various charitable organizations.
“The VDC has played a vital role in ensuring that the health facility is equipped with essential resources, including medications and electricity,” he stated.
Bojang spoke about the community’s desire of transitioning the health facility from the national electricity grid to solar power to supply power 24-hours.
“We have prepared a budget for this initiative and submitted it to the area council for potential funding. Additionally, establishing laboratory services is crucial, as effective healthcare requires the ability to conduct tests for conditions like malaria, HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis,” he emphasized.
Mr. Bojang expressed heartfelt thanks to the Gambia Aid Foundation for their generous donation which, he said, addresses a long-standing need in the community.
The Chairman of the Village Development Committee, Cherno Njie, underscored the importance of the ambulance in alleviating health challenges faced by the community, particularly for pregnant women. He conveyed his gratitude to the donor and expressed optimism of further collaborations.
Kemo Badjie, a nursing officer and representative of the officer-in-charge, provided insights into the hospital’s operations, noting that Tujereng health centre serves a population of around 30,000 people and handles nearly thousand patients.
“We manage approximately 20 referrals each month, underscoring the critical role of the ambulance in our healthcare management. Since Tujereng is a minor facility, referrals are often the only option once certain threshold conditions are met,” Badjie explained.
He also highlighted the financial difficulties some patients face, regarding referral fees, stating, “It’s a challenge for our community, especially for those who are unable to afford these fees.”
Mark Hammons, the head of the Gambia Aid Foundation, elaborated on the foundation’s mission to support Gambian hospitals in obtaining critical resources, including ambulances. He encouraged the community to care for the new ambulance to ensure its continued use, highlighting its value of D1 million.
“We are looking forward to visiting The Gambia to assess the status of the ambulance and engage further with the community,” he affirmed.
