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Holland Foundation Adult Education Inaugurate Garden Literacy Centre In Gunjur

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:28:36 GMT

Thursday, November 20, 2008

As part of their 10 year anniversary celebrations in The Gambia, Holland Foundation Adult Education recently inaugurated a garden and literacy centre in Gunjur, Kombo South District in the Western Region.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the chairperson of Holland Foundation Adult Education and also a Board member, Mrs. Yvon Springer, said the garden employs 206 women, divided into 16 groups and each group has a head.

For his part, Lamin Touray, a representative of Holland foundation Adult Education branch in Gunjur Kombo South, said that the project is initiated to improve, develop and empower women in Gunjur and also to eradicate illiteracy among women.

He stated that they also trained women on how to make soap and all were able to make soap on their own.

Other speakers included the Alkalo of Gunjur Alhajie Sulayman Touray other significant dignitaries attended the opening ceremony.

The ceremony was chaired by Momodou Lamin, Kambi Literacy officer Holland Foundation Adult Education.

Author: Lamin Darboe

Source: Picture: Gunjur Alkalo cutting ribbon

Multi Million Euro Boost for Baja Kunda Health Centre

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:13:14 GMT

Friday, November 14, 2008

The Baja Kunda Health Centre in Wuli East District of Upper River Region has received a 22 million Euro boost from the AL PICAT Solidarity, a Spanish NGO, and the community of Baja, a gesture which has transformed the health facility with a new look.

Speaking to this reporter recently at the Health Centre, Mr.Abdoulie Jammeh Officer in Charge (a registered Midwife HND in Midwifery) revealed that the modern building commenced operation on Tuesday 4thNovember 2008. According to him, the project provided a new administrative building, out patient department, drug store, public health office, laboratory department, pediatric, male, female and children’s wards. He said that the project also provided a space for ophthalmic and TB departments. A labour ward and information office were also created, he said. Mr. Jammeh expressed gratitude to the donors for giving the health post a new look and equipment. “Everybody here is happy about this gesture. There is comfort and a good working environment”. He said that unlike the previous building, with only 9 beds, the new building has 27 beds excluding two other beds for postnatal observation.

He encouraged the communities to take greater care of the new facilities. Mr. Jammeh further revealed that the health centre normally received from 75 to 150 patients on a daily basis form different parts of the region and beyond. “With this new modern structure, my intention is to transform the health centre to become one of the best health centres in the region and even beyond”. He said that initiatives like this could be used by the Spanish authorities to address the issue of illegal migration because it would create auxiliary jobs for many young people. He finally appealed to government to help the centre with more trained nurses and doctors.

For his part, Jesus Marco locally known as Isa Bajaga, a volunteer for the Spanish NGO, revealed that out of the total cost, the community of Baja Kunda provided 10 million Dalasis as their counterpart contribution. He further revealed that the project is also supporting the Baja Kunda Lower Basic school. He said that their future plan is to provide 24-hour electricity for the health centre and to bring some doctors from Spain to come and share experience with their colleagues in Baja. Jesus also said that they also intend to provide a maternity room and an operating theatre for the health centre.

Author: Nfamara Jawneh

US Based Gambian Donates to Essau Health Centre

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:35:51 GMT

Monday, November 10, 2008

Mr. Ousman Sonko recently donated some medical items to Essau Health Centre. Mr. Sonko is a citizen of Essau in Lower Nyumi Rising who resides in the United States of America.

The donation included seven packets of gloves, four bottles of hydrogen peroxide, cotton and needles for the lab and plasters. In all the donation is worth over D20,000.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the donor said that people should remember that the government cannot do everything and that everyone must do their best to help. He also paid tribute to his wife Mrs. Amina Faal Sonko for her part in the donation. He said that the donation aims to allow Essau Health Centre to have enough sophisticated medical equipment so there will be less need to refer people to RVTH. He called on the administration of the hospital to make the best use of the donation.

For his part, the officer in charge, Mr. Sulayman Jammeh, said that he was very impressed with the items and stated that the items were very important to the centre. He also said how useful hydrogen peroxide is to the centre. He said that the centre is in need of many things including a fence.

He also appealed to the government to help them to fence the health centre. He finally promised Mr. Sonko that the best use will be made of the donation.

Mr. Fabakary Nana Sonko, the chief of Lower Nyomi, also thanked the donor. He stated that for the first time this kind of medical equipment has been brought by a native of the area. He said that Mr. Sonko’s gesture would be of benefit to all the people of the area. He finally advised the staff of the health centre to take good care of the items.

Other speakers included Mr. Satay Abdoulie Joof the member for DHT who expressed similar sentiments.

Author: Yai Dibba

Centre for Children and Young People Uplifting Teenagers in The Gambia

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:18:51 GMT

Friday, September 26, 2008

The Centre for Children and Young People also known as FO JANGA provides a wide range of integrated services for children, young people and their families, including quality after school, home work, holiday and weekend projects.

This reporter recently visited the centre to get first hand information about its operations in the country.

In an exclusive interview with the Director of the centre Madam Amal Abbass-Saal at the Centre, she said that they accept applications from any child who possesses the motivation, ability and character that enable them to succeed. “We give each child the opportunity to reach their full potential. Play, she said is an essential element in the development of well rounded healthy children. It is vital to their intellectual, social, emotional and physical development,” she noted. Since we consider creative play as the work of the child, our aim is to nurture the vital imaginative life of a child, by giving them the space and time to enjoy freely and creatively every day. The Centre she said, provides day care services to young children in preparing a gentle journey towards formal education from two and a half years old onwards.

Author: Yerro Mballow

Basse Health Centre to be Transformed into District Hospital

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:23:00 GMT

Monday, July 21, 2008

The Deputy Officer-in-Charge of Basse Health Centre, Mr Ebrima Baldeh, has revealed to a team of journalists who are currently on a visit to MRC project sites in Upper River Region that plans are underway to transform Basse Health Centre into a District hospital. He expressed optimism that if Basse Health Centre is transformed into a district hospital, the number of referrals to Bansang would decrease drastically.

He stated that the catchment area alone for Basse has a total of 137,577 inhabitants, noting that the sheer number of inhabitants necessitates the upgrading of the Health Centre to District, whose completion, he said, would reduce cost for treatment while the ambulance would also be in good condition. Mr Baldeh also pointed out that the existence of a District Hospital would ease the economic burden.

Alhagi Samba Tunkara, a commitee member of the health centre, said that there is a close working relationship between MRC and the health centre, adding that their committee sometimes organise fundraising activities for the health centre.

He also reiterated his committee’s support for the expansion of the health facility, noting that major developments have taken place in the health centre in recent times.

Author: By Pa Modou Faal

Source: Friday 18th July 2008 Issue

St. Martha’s Skills Centre, Nursery Holds Graduation Ceremony

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:51:44 GMT

Thursday, July 17, 2008

The St. Martha’s Skill Centre and Nursery, owned by the Cluny Sisters, recently held their graduation ceremony in the presence of parents, students and well wishers at Barra.

Sister Christiana Fefegula, the head of the nursery department of the institution, said her school was outstanding in their area and has always excelled when they go to the Lower Basic School. “I am delighted that today parents are gathered here to celebrate another step in their children’s lives. “Education is certainly the highest thing one can give to his or her child. When these children grow tomorrow, they bring honour, fame and joy to their parents. This stage is a symbol of what is to come in the future,” she said.

In her speech, Sr. Christiana Fefegula said nursery is a transition from one stage to the other and this will go on and on until they complete and become independent. Parents need to give them support at all stages. This will not only make them self-sufficient but will also empower them to strive hard to develop The Gambia to greater heights. “The government is working assiduously to get every child going to school so that no one will be left behind. I am encouraging parents to bring their children to school to be part of this drive to success,” she stated.

Sr. Ellen Tholley, in charge of the Skills Centre, said they had constraints. She said young girls find it difficult to come to register to train and be productive. She urged young girls and women to come forward, for learning is better than silver than gold. The day ended with music and dancing and prizes were given to deserving students and children

Author: By Augustine Kanjia

Capacity Building A Step Towards Sustainable Development – Momodou Conteh

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:55:16 GMT

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

The Director of technical service Network at the National Environment Agency (NEA) Momodou Conteh has said that capacity building is a key factor towards any sustainable development initiative or process. He added that without empowering the capacity of staff of any institution, their expected output will fall below expected targets of achievement.

Conteh make these remarks recently during the closing ceremony of a week-long internal training course for NEA inspectors, documentalists, Accountants, etc on data base management at the NEA’s documentation centre in Banjul. He called on the participants to be very practical in what they have learnt during the training

The trainers, Alieu Touray and Malick Sarr from the Ecological Monitoring Centre for the Natural Resources Management and Technical staff from Dakar, Senegal said training on data bases is a key instrument in this generation. They said that information technology is a vital component that cannot be left behind in our development endeavours, and therefore needs to be harnessed for the young workers. He further took the opportunity and call on the trainees to disseminate the knowledge learnt to others who did not have the opportunity to attend the training.

The training co-ordinator Dodou Trawally, Senior Programme Officer at the Geographical Information Systems of the NEA, said the success behind every institution is the training and capacity building of its staff.

Two youngsters sent to remand centre

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:59:30 GMT

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Two youngsters were last Monday sent to a remand centre after being charged with conspiracy and theft.

Lamin Manneh and Buba Sowe appeared before magistrate John Njie of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court for conspiring to commit a felony.

One of the boys will now go on trial after pleading ‘not guilty’ to charges of conspiring to steal two sets of bed, three tables and four benches. The pieces of furniture, allegedly stolen from the Kafuta forest park in 2007, were valued at D8,000.

When the charge sheet was read out to Lamin and Buba, Lamin refuted the accusation whilst Buba admitted guilt.

The matter was at that juncture stood down for the conviction of Buba as well as the beginning of Lamin’s trial.

Author: By Yai Dibba

Media Agenda/ Insight Training Centre to provide Training for Gambian Journalists

Fri, 30 May 2008 05:49:21 GMT

Friday, May 30, 2008

The Media Agenda and Insight Training Centre will be offering certificate and diploma courses in journalism as of September this year.

This was revealed to journalists at a press briefing held at the Media Agenda offices in Churchill’s Town on Wednesday.

According to Mr. Madi Ceesay, Director of Media Agenda, the syllabus for the courses, which they have been working on for six months, has been validated with the National Training Authority and was seen as very relevant. The certificate and diploma courses will be offered side by side in 9 months he said.

According to him the syllabus includes newsgathering, feature writing, public relations, photojournalism and advertising among other subjects. He further revealed that the fees for the certificate level is D12, 000 while the diploma is D15, 000 respectively.

On enrolment eligibility, Mr. Ceesay said that journalism certificate holders would be given the enrolment in diploma courses. Those in the who have been practicing journalism for ten years in the country will admitted for the diploma while Grade 12 students who score a credit in English are also catered for and Grade 9 graduates who have been in the profession for five years can also be considered as mature candidates.

For his part, Mr. Ismaila Ceesay CEO/principal of Insight Training Centre said, “this is an opportunity for Gambian journalists and those who want to become journalists. He added that the courses are not only limited to journalists but also for those in the advertising industry and public relations departments. The course lectures include veteran journalists like Suwaibou Conateh, Amie Bojang Sussoho and Cherno Jallow.

Author: By Nfamara Jawneh

VOX POP ON THE ECOWAS GENDER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE MEETING

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:41:06 GMT

Friday, May 16, 2008

Women’s conditions and empowerment can now be described as a continental issue, as almost every African leader has realized that women’s issues should be addressed positively since the development of any nation lies in the hands of its women. Though women have not got all the rights they are supposed to have, one can say now we are already near the end of the race. There is a saying that if you empower a woman you empower the whole nation, which I guess is the priority of every head of state. Recently our vice president and Secretary of State for women’s affairs and the National Women’s Council, hosted the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre meeting for member countries’ ministers of women’s affairs on the strategic plans of ECOWAS at Jerma Beach Hotel Banjul, which shows the clear manifestation of the struggle our leaders are performing in order to empower and enlighten every woman, down to the grassroots level, the meeting which was attended by various women across The Gambia and the other African countries was one of its kind, and very interesting and important issues were discussed, and exchange of ideas was done on how the government of ECOWAS member states can adopt the strategic plan. After the meeting SHE SHE SHE anchor was lucky to talk to some of the participants from different countries on their individual opinions about the meeting and how it will help the women if adopted. Please read:

Fatou Y Kargbo - Sierra Leone Acting Director Gender and Children’s Affairs.

It’s very worthy, good work and timely, because we have been praying for it to happen, as a gender ECOWAS focal point, we have been debating it on several occasions, and we are praying for opportunities, for us to assemble the member state ministers, in the sub region. It will be adopted if we take it to the governments; I’m sure the ministers will lobby, which is good, because it helps the message to go faster, because even when we say ‘gender’, many think it is about women, but gender stands for both men and women, and gender is a definition for any mortal, it’s part of roles and responsibilities ascribed to us as individual beings. When you talk of gender they think it is a cut-across issue. The meeting is very interesting, and the agenda on gender mainstreaming is sort of to break the iceberg at least for the people to know that when we say gender it is not let me do 50% and you do 50%. No, it’s responsibility matching. If this is a bridge, you take it from here and I take from there, it comes to the middle.

SSS: How do you think women may be able to help if the document is adopted?

FYK:Well it will help women greatly; it will serve as eye opener, enlightening women in all spheres of life economically, morally, socially, and culturally, they will know their rights as human beings.

Honorable Daniel C. Dugan, Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs - Ghana.

I think we had a successful meeting and I believe its success is not that everything went on well, but it is because what is set out to do I believe the ECOWAS and ministers of women’s affairs will both do it. The adoption of the document is left with member states because if you take it to a country, you want to adopt they will push it aside because we are Africans. We pay a little service or attention to women’s affairs, so I would say that if only our ministers who came here push the document in cabinet and make sure that it is adopted, then it will go a long way and will help to advance the women in the African sub-region.

Aji Fatou Njie – United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Dakar.

It is a very good initiative to convey this kind of high level meeting where we can discuss with gender ministers about the financing gender equality. We think that is the best way to get ECOWAS to be more sensitive to the issue of influencing micro economic development, and this meeting is of high quality, very good documents were given out to participants, and I’m sure it will make a great impact.

Sheikh Omar Fye – Head of Gender and Development Unit (Management Development Institute) The Gambia.

This meeting is a landmark achievement in the annals of The Gambia’s gender history; we are able to achieve this because of the help of God and the leadership and all stakeholders’ commitments. This is a regional opportunity to achieve integration among ECOWAS member states. The Gambia is no stranger in making a lot of advances in ensuring that women take centre stage in development activities. One great achievement is that The Gambia is a force to reckon with in setting very good examples in ensuring that we are in top management positions both in public and private sector levels.

Georgiana Kamara, Deputy Permanent Secretary to Minister of Women’s Affairs Sierra Leone.

The meeting is very much educative. In terms of mainstreaming gender and women empowerment, another high point of the meeting was the training although it was not in-depth training but we were given ideas and copies of manuals on gender mainstreaming, which too is very much in place, in that we can give focus in terms of training, and a training need for gender and women’s empowerment’. The ideas will not be scattered this time around because we have something to look back to, we are taking back the document to different countries so that we can give focus when we want to train people on gender mainstreaming.