Asocion Ayuda Mutua de Baddibunkas in Spain, over the weekend, presented a cash amount of five hundred and twenty-eight thousand dalasis to the community of Baddibu Njaaba Kunda to kick start a new Health Centre project.

Alhagie Borry Jaiteh, chairman of the association’s local committee in The Gambia received the money at a grand ceremony held at the village.

Speaking at the ceremony, chairman Jaiteh gave a brief history of the health center. According to him, the current structures were build 30 years ago and were used as a dispensary unit  until in 1975 when they got assistance from German philanthropist to face lift the center again.

He thank Mr Louis Pvigolemont and the natives of Njaaba Kunda residing in Spain for the huge sum, meant to improve the health centre. He also assured that the money will be put into good use.

For his part, Louis Pvigolemont, the association’s counterpart from spain, expressed delight at the warm welcome accorded to him. He assured the people of Baddibu of his personal support, but quickly urged them to maintain the project and forge ahead with the good link between the two countries.

Janko Kanteh, the head of the delegation from Spain, challenge parents to advice their relatives in the diaspora to take the association seriously. According to him, they find it very difficult to mobilised them for meetings and to pay their monthly contributions for the development of the village.

“I know must of you gathered here today have one or two relatives in Europe. Convince them to join the association if they have not yet and those who joined, to pay their contributions regularly”. he appealed.

Amadou Sowe from Department of State for Health ,represented Dr Tamsir Mbowe, director of health and medical services.  Janko Fofana chaired the ceremony.

A sixteen-year old girl (name withheld), who was said to have been allegedly impregnated by her 35-year old teacher, identified as one Muhammad, at Kombo Kerewan Upper Basic School, Kombo North, has stated that she was not forced by her teacher to have carnal knowledge of her.

The young girl made this startling revelation, on Monday, before Senior Magistrate EF M’Bai of the Brikama Magistrates Court.

According to her, the first day she entered the accused person’s house, she herself followed him into his bedroom to have “intercourse” with him. She further told the court that the day she went to the accused person’s house, she had just come from Banjulinding Health Centre, where she went to get medicine for her eyes, which were hurting. She said on the way, she met the accused who stopped her and asked what the matter was.

Continuing her narration, she said she told the accused that her eyes were paining her and she had gone to find medicine, but had been unsuccessful. She further went on that the accused then bought some paracetamol tablets for her and later asked her to go with him to one of his friend’s house.

She asserted that while they were in the house, the accused person was fingering a computer and she also had interest in the computer, which led her to go and sit beside the accused person.

According to her, some minutes later, the accused person went into the bedroom and she followed suit.

“That was the first day I had intercourse with the accused,” the young girl confessed to the court.

A week later, the young girl continued, there was a sporting activity at the school and when the accused person met her, he asked her to go with him to his house, since she (the girl) was lonely. She added that in March this year, while she was at school, she started vomiting and when the accused asked her what was the matter, she told him that she was sick. According to her, the accused then took her to the health centre, where the result of the check indicated that she was pregnant.

“I did not want to reveal this to my aunt at first, but a neighbour told her later on,” she concluded.

The accused has admitted having intercourse with the young girl, but continues to maintain that this was in February, when the girl had already turned 16 (the legal age of consent). The case is now adjourned to July 7, for continuation of the proceedings.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant 119 Camara represented the IGP in the case.

Njawara Lower Basic School and Health Centre recently received medical items and school furniture, worth over D300,000, from Cees and Paula, a couple from Holland, at a presentation ceremony held in Njawara village, North Bank Region.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Alh Fafanding Kinteh, Chief of Lower Badibou, commended the couple and their Gambian counterpart, Dodou Njie, a native of Njawara village, for complementing government’s efforts in the development process.

The Lower Badibou Chief also urged the beneficiaries to put the materials into good use.

Alh Suku Singhateh, the National Assembly member for Lower Badibou, said the donated items will contribute a lot towards the socio-economic development of the people in the area.

He commended Doudou Njie for spearheading such a development initiative for his people.

Lamin K. Jawara, Headmaster of Njawara Lower Basic School, underscored the great importance government attaches to the realisation of quality education and health, as enshrined in vision 2020.

Mr Jawara appealed to the philanthropists, NGOs and Organisations to help the school to build a library and school fence.

Aja Haddy Panneh, Alkalo of Njawara village, thanked the donors for the benevolent gesture. She also assured them that the materials will be put into good use.

Other speakers included Maja Sonko, President of Njawara Development Society, Abdoulie Barry, Village Development Committee Chairman and Amadou Wurry Jallow, Regional Health Officer, North Bank Region.

Fatou Touray, a student at Njawara Lower Basic School delivered the vote of thanks.

The natives of Koina based abroad have built a new health centre in the village in Upper River Region (URR), named after the first lady Madam Zineb Yahya Jammeh. According to reports, those in Spain contributed €200,000 to the project, while other sons of the village based in France and the USA pitched in €15,000 and US$20,000 respectively.

Yankuba Touray, the secretary of state for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, last week Friday visited the facility on behalf of President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, where he praised the sons of the village for their patriotism and efforts to improve the quality of life for their people. SoS Touray stressed the importance the president attaches to health, adding that such civil-led projects complement government’s efforts in providing quality and affordable health service delivery to the doorsteps of all Gambians.

Mr Touray then called on other communities to emulate the people of Koina for more rapid development.

Dr Malick Njie, the secretary of state for Health and Social Welfare, enjoined his Cabinet counterpart in commending Koinians for their magnanimous contribution to the health sector and urged the people to make best use of the facility, while assuring them of government’s support.

He said the construction of the facility is another response to the president’s call for every Gambian to contribute to national development. He also called on the people to forge partnership and support the health centre with the required materials in order for it to effectively function, noting that the government cannot do it all alone.

Two philanthropists, Roger and Cheryl Ling, donated Salikenni Basic School and Health Centre to the people of Salikenni in the last few years. Recently they have been joined by two friends, Kelly and her mother Susan, who also wish to donate to the village.

These philanthropists last visited the village in November. It was the 6th occasion they had done so.

On their arrival they received a warm welcome from the students and their teachers and also from the Council of Elders.

The Chairperson, Mr. Sankung Daffeh, gave the welcoming remarks and further thanked the donors and their partners in the UK for their tremendous efforts in helping the village.

For her part, Mrs. Cheryl Ling delivered a medical package worth D10,000 and also a wheelbarrow, spade, rake and gloves to the nurse in charge.

The chief of the village, Mr. Alhagie Sainey Kanteh prayed for the donors and thanked them for coming to Salikenni with such a kind gesture.

The two newly-elected councillors for Bakau Newtown and Old Bakau Cape Point wards have assured residents of the town that they will endeavour not to fall short of their promises to the electorate.

The formidable Alhaji Adama Bahoum of the APRC party and Ousman ‘Rambo’ Jatta of the UDP have both promised residents of their respective wards that they will stir up a transformation that will bring about development and improvements in the lives of the people, during a heated political campaign, which preceded the January 24 polls.

In a post-election interview with the Daily Observer, shortly after emerging victors at the counting centre at the Independence Stadium,  Newtown Ward Councillor Bahoum said top on his development plans for his ward are the provision of adequate safe drinking water and the rehabilitation of feeder roads within the ward.

“Other areas include the rehabilitation of Bakau Health Centre and the community sanitation programmes,” he said, adding that his effort to bring the people together in a bid to promote unity in the ward is also paramount in his service to the community. He stressed that no development can take place in the face of “sectionalism” and expressed his resolve to eradicate it.

Councillor Bahoum then called on his opponents who lost to him during the elections to join hands with him in implementing the development agenda of the ward, noting that they are not losers but are “development oriented individuals” whose contributions cannot be over-emphasised.

For his part, Ousman ‘Rambo’ Jatta, councillor for the Old Bakau/Cape Point ward, said his re-election presents to him an opportunity for the continuation of the development initiatives he started during his short-term of service as the councillor of the ward. He added that his intended development projects include the provision of an ambulance and refuse collection trucks to the ward, creation of employment opportunities for the youths, as well as rehabilitation and installation of streetlights.

“One of the most important areas of concern is to empower the Bakau women horticultural gardeners to standardise their venture to a level where produces will be sold both locally and internationally,” he said.

Meanwhile, the councillors lauded the electorate for the trust and confidence bestowed on them, saying that they will live up to expectations and shall accomplish their tasks as councillors within the shortest possible time.

Dr Tamsir Mbowe , Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare, on behalf of the Gambian leader, President Yahya Jammeh on Sunday donated medicaments worth D21,000 to the Pirang Health Centre.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at the Pirang Health Centre, Dr Tamsir Mbowe, said the development of the health delivery system to the pride and joy of Gambians is the Gambian leader’s top most agenda. “It is not a secret to Gambians that President Jammeh’s ultimate aim is to bring health care delivery system to the door steps of all and sundry in The Gambia and we are almost there”.

For his part, Seedy M Touray Commissioner of Immigration thanked President Jammeh for the gesture, noting that the people of Pirang are much obliged with the donation. Commissioner Touray also applauded the Director -General of the GRTS Alhaji Momodou Sanyang for going all out to improve the service delivery system of the GRTS.

Lamin MM Bojang, National Assembly Member for Kombo East assured President Jammeh for his constituency’s ever willingness to rally behind him and the APRC party.

Speaking on behalf of the Alkalo of Pirang Lamin mimi Fofana appealed to President Jammeh to transform the health centre into a hospital as a result of  increasing number of patients visiting the health centre on a daily  basis.

Lamin Lams Bojang, who chaired the presentation ceremony, also commended President Jammeh for the kind gesture.

As part of the series of activities marking world breastfeeding day, the National Nutrition Agency (NaNa) in collaboration with the Department of State for Health (DoSH) recently organised a breastfeeding sensitisation programme for nursing mothers held at the Fajikunda health centre.

The programme which attracted over one hundred breastfeeding mothers was sponsored by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef).

Speaking at the occasion, Jula Jaiteh, officer-in-charge of the Fajikunda Health Centre, said that breast milk contains antibiotics that fight against infections. She added that every child needs to be breastfed on demand.

Malang Janneh, the Regional Health Officer, KMC who doubles as the co-ordinator of these activities, said breastfeeding the child during the first hour after birth protects babies from stomachache.  According to Mr Janneh, this will also save mothers from bleeding and aneamia.

Participants were also sensitised about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and the impact it has on the children.

The Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS) last Saturday donated household materials worth four hundred and fifty thousand dalasis (450,000) to 16 flood victims at Sinchu Baliya, Western Region at a ceremony held at the village’s health centre.

The assistance is another humanitarian service manifested to the victims of such natural disasters by the Gambia Red Cross Society.

The donated items which included 31 sets of mattresses, bednets, bed sheets, buckets, bags of rice, blankets, cooking oil and packages of laundry and bath soap was shared among the 16 flood victims.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Fatou Gaye, Senior Red Cross Officer said the donation was in response to the plight of the 16 flood victims who were left homeless as a result of heavy down pour of rain sometime back in July this year.

She recalled that during the process of the flood which occurred at mid-night, their volunteers came out to assist the victims which minimised the damages.

According to her, an assessment was conducted by their team as to how much damage the flood caused and how much assistance the victims would need within the shortest possible period. She then advised the people of the area to be mindful of disasters and called on them to encourage their children into voluntarism.

Lamin Gassama, representing the Secretary-General of the Gambia Red Cross Society said the presentation is a moment of reflection to family members who were victimised by nature sometime back in July this year. He noted that since the Gambia Red Cross Society’s motto is “to serve one another,” then it is mandatory for them to intervene and assist colleagues victimised by natural disasters and other forms of catastrophies.

While assuring the general public of their commitment to answer to the needy, Gassama noted that, they are not competing but are only serving as an auxiliary to  the efforts of government.

For his part, Serigne Modou Joof, Public Relations Officer of the Brikama Area Council who represented the Governor of Western Region, hailed the efforts of The Gambia Red Cross Society for the kind humanitarian services they are rendering to victims of disasters, describing the gesture as worthy and timely.

He further advised the people to learn from disasters and quickly revealed that his council will come with solutions geared towards preventing disasters in the region.

Ousman Gaye, acting Chairman of the Brikama Area Council echoed similar sentiments.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Lamin Fatty Fatty, Red Cross’s Branch Officer for Western Region, Alhagie Amadou Bah, Alkalo of Sinchu Baliya and Kumba Barry.