By Yunus S Saliu
Honouring excellence and dedication, the management of Serrekunda Minor Health Center on Saturday, 2nd February 2025 held its annual data and award presentation ceremony at the WAII complex in Manjai, it was attended by different dignitaries and health personnel across the Kanifing Municipality.
Presiding over the ceremony, Musa Camara, Regional Director of Health Services Western 1 tagged the event as a day of reflection and taking stock of gains made by the facility through data presentation and appraisal of outstanding staff for excellence in health service delivery.
“This best practice motivates staff and enables sustainable retention of the workforce within health facilities and the health sector as a whole,” he expressed.
Serrekunda Health Center, he said, being established in the late 70s is a minor public health facility that provides health care services to a wider range of communities beyond its operational catchment area.
The centre has a serving population of 77,393 with ten midwives’ nurses conducting an average of 184 to 190 deliveries per month on shift duties and 2,208 to 2,280 deliveries per year.
The Regional Director of Health Services Western 1 reflected on the success stories and achievements of the center which include the construction of a waiting shed for RMNCAH services, and increased staff motivation through subsidy allocation. He assured them of the Ministry’s continuous support for effective and efficient health service delivery to attain the SDGs for health.
Mr Camara, therefore, thanked UNFPA, WB, NAS, philanthropists, MOH, and other development stakeholders for contributing their quota towards the structural transformation of Serrekunda Minor Health Centre.
In his goodwill messages, he encouraged the management and staff of the centre to always observe, cherish and nurture their professional code of ethics in health service delivery. He further encouraged them to ensure timely reporting of facility data to the region for entries into the DHIS2 database and promote and nurture participatory data review, feedback, and appraisal of outstanding staff to curb staff attrition.
The Officer-In-Charge of the Serrekunda Minor Health Center, David Junior Daye revealed the theme for this year’s event – Better Care Through Collaboration – Awards and Insights into Better Best Practices, saying a journey they undertook in 2024.
He recounted the center’s achievements which included training and capacity building, the ART Clinic, facility cleaning exercise, the first-ever digital registration clock-in system, in-service training and workshops, and regular staff meetings.
The center’s challenges in the year under review, according to the OIC included accessibility to the facility, lack of an ambulance, limited toilet facilities, and limited security capacity while their expectation in the present year is to continue engaging the stakeholders – including government representatives and partners to address infrastructural gaps and resource limitations. And also, to address infrastructural gaps and resource limitations, proximity, and accessibility.
Meanwhile, Dr Hassan Njie, Director of Services, National Health Insurance Authority was the guest speaker, and his deliberation unpacked the theme – Better Care through collaboration – Awards and insights into best practices.
The event was marked with entertainment and the presentation of awards to different staff in recognition of their dedication and hard work.
