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.