By: Sering Mass Jallow
The government on Friday signed contracts with engineering firms for the facelifting of four selected health facilities spread across three regions of the country.
The Gambia’s National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) through the Ministry of Health and with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) sealed the deal with the firms.
The contracts cover civil works at health facilities in Brikama, West Coast Region; Yerobawol and Foday Kunda in Upper River Region; and Chamen in Central River Region, under the Resilience Building Vulnerable Youth and Women Support Project (RB-VYWoSP).
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Bijilo, NSPA Executive Director Saikou Jeng said the project demonstrated the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable communities through better access to healthcare services.
“The contracts signed today represent an investment in people, their dignity and their well-being,” Jeng remarked.
He said the rehabilitation of the health facilities would strengthen healthcare service delivery and improve access to quality care for vulnerable populations.
Ousman Ceesay, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Vice President and Chairperson of the Project’s Steering Committee, said the upgraded facilities would improve healthcare services, provide better working conditions for health personnel and expand access to healthcare across the country.
He reaffirmed the Steering Committee’s commitment to ensuring the effective implementation of the project in line with The Gambia’s national development priorities.
Stakeholders at the ceremony expressed optimism that the project would enhance the capacity of the targeted health facilities and improve access to essential healthcare services, particularly for vulnerable communities.