By Amadou Jadama
The Tallinding North community recently inaugurated its newly constructed community clinic, valued at over D1 million.
The facility, funded by Francis Javier Gasquez Perez, Director of NGO Serhumano based in Spain, was officially opened on Thursday.
Councillor Babucarr Mansally, presiding over the ceremony, emphasised that the clinic represents the realisation of a collective dream and a testament to the community’s commitment to progress and development.
“The celebration is not just the completion of a physical structure but the fulfillment of a promise made to the people,” he said.
Mansally highlighted the importance of prioritising health and wellbeing, stating, “Health is Wealth and any leadership that does not prioritise her people’s physical viability is deemed incomplete and unfit.” He commended the efforts of Consejero de Cooperacion Institucional Solidaridad Internacional del Cabildo de Gran Canaria and ONG Ser Humano for their generous support.
The clinic, which will operate as a Reproductive and Child Health Clinic, is expected to serve as a beacon of hope and a model for early childhood health support in The Gambia.
Mansally urged the community to take ownership of the facility, ensuring its upkeep and sustainability.
Musa Camara, Regional Director of Health Services Western 1, acknowledged the dedication and collaboration of the Tallinding community, donor partners, Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders. He emphasised the importance of serving with compassion, professionalism, and integrity, and urged the community to use the facility responsibly.
The clinic is expected to bring essential services closer to the people, reducing long travel distances and easing financial burdens.
“Access to health is one of the most fundamental pillars of a thriving society,” Camara said.
“When a community is healthy, it is empowered.”
Francis Javier Gasquez Perez, Director of NGO Serhumano, expressed gratitude to the people of Tallinding North for their hospitality and advised them to take good care of the clinic.
The ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Talib Bensouda, Mayor of KM, Sulayman Jammeh, NAM for Bundung, and Modou Lamin Badge, Admin Secretary for APRC, who echoed similar sentiments.
The clinic’s inauguration marks a new era in the health and wellbeing of the Tallinding North community, symbolising hope, progress, and a shared commitment to ensuring quality healthcare for all.
