By Tabora Bojang
A new nurse’s quarters built at Foni Bulock Minor Health Centre under the sponsorship of a Dutch foundation Rainbow for Gambia, was inaugurated on Saturday.
The four-bed staff quarters was constructed as part of the foundation’s efforts to bolster primary health care at the health centre which it built in 2018.
The national coordinator of Rainbow Foundation in The Gambia, Penda Sowe explained that the foundation has been rendering support to various Gambian communities in the areas of health and education since its inception in The Gambia 15 years ago.
According to her, the health centre was since constrained by the lack of accommodation for its staff.
Sowe thanked the Dutch partners for the success of the project saying, it is a demonstration of their strong commitment and love for the people of The Gambia.
“I am very happy and even speechless at this wonderful gesture. I want to thank the foundation for their love for Gambia. They are motivating us to get to where we want with our national development endeavours,” she said.
Coordinator Sowe urged the villagers to ensure the good upkeep of the facility.
She also urged officials of the Ministry of Health to keep it 24 hours operational to address the health needs of Bulock community and surrounding villages.
Wim Annen, a member of the Rainbow for Gambia who has been visiting The Gambia since 2000 described the facility as one of the success stories of the foundation since it began work in The Gambia.
“I love Gambians and it is a very beautiful country. I am a Christian and for me it is important that we look for poor people and render support to them,” he added.
Salieu Barry the chairman of the Bulock Health Committee said the new staff quarters will significantly enhance health care delivery in the facility which consists of trained nurses and a traditional birth attendant.
Mr Barry who works with MRC – The Gambia, hailed The Gambia Government for creating the enabling environment for the successful host of the project.
Mustapha Sima, a representative of Region 2 Health Directorate, said the lack of accommodation for staff of the health facility had been a challenge for the ministry and that the completion of the quarters will go a long way in motivating the staff.
