Gambia’s Vice President and minister of Women’s Affairs, Ousainou Darboe, Saturday presided over the inauguration of a new clinic in Busumbala called Jamano clinic.
The inauguration was attended by cabinet ministers, health workers, regional governor, Brikama Area Council staff, ward councilors and religious leaders.
The health facility comprises of a pharmacy, laboratory, consultation room and admission room for patients in emergency situations.
Minister Darboe commended the proprietor of the clinic Edrisa Jawara for contributing to national development goals by providing health infrastructure for Busumbala and the satellite villages. He reiterated the government commitment to improve the country’s health care delivery.
Wester Health II Region director of health services Ngally Abubacarr Sambou spoke on the importance of health facilities, saying the ministry of health need partners like Jamano enterprise for development. “Increased access to quality health care for people is a pivotal catalyst to socio-economic development.”
He assured the proprietor of their collective drive towards the attainment of the new global health related sustainable development goal 3 that seek to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages, as also enshrined in the country new national development plan 2018-2021.
Mr. Sambou stressed the need for the Jamano clinc to adhere to the rules and regulations of medical practice as inscribed in their memorandum of understanding with the health ministry and urged them to ensure that the body that oversee the mandate and function should be given access to their data during their supervisory visits at all times.
He said data is important as it has potential to enhance chances to inform decision making and recommended them to use the national data collection instruments and tools.
Manager of the clinic Musa Jawara said the establishment of the clinic is the brain child of Edrisa Jawara based in Mary Land, United State of America, himself and Muhammed Ali Camara. He explained that the initiative was thought of after careful consideration following President Adama Barrow’s appeal to Gambian and other investors and entrepreneurs to come and support the development agenda of the new Gambia.
He said they decided to take the facility to Busumbala because of the urgent need to supplement government efforts in health care delivery within the catchment areas, saying Busumbala and Farato has an estimated population of 250,000 people with a traveling distance of 5km to the nearest health facility apart from a maternity wing of the ministry of health and social welfare at Farato.
Mr. JJawara said their main objective as a private entity is to provide low cost medical services and free medication for less fortunate members of the community, conducting monthly child welfare programmes such as scaling and vaccination programme, establishment of standard maternal ward and laboratory services, delivery point of care and admission of patient in emergency situations as well as availability of medication and provision and provision of 24 hours reliable medical services.
