The minister of Health and Social Welfare Sunday laid the foundation stone of the new Jamburr Health Centre, financed at the tune of US$100, 000, (about D3, 200, 000) by the Pierre Sarr Njie Foundation.

The move by the Foundation, which was established in 2011 by Ida Sillah-Njie, a granddaughter of the late iconic PS Njie, has been described as a major leap for the community of Jamburr, in that it will significantly boost their health care needs.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Fatim Badjie described the support to the community of Jamburr by the Foundation as timely, noting that the move complements government’s efforts. She underscored that the Jammeh Administration has put health among its top priorities, and commended the donor for what she described as a positive action. She also stressed that government cannot do it alone, and thus needs the support of partners.

The Health minister noted that the new health centre will have a maternity unit, laboratory and pharmacy, among others. She pledged her Ministry’s commitment to provide the new facility with an ambulance, a generator, personnel and medicines upon completion. She urged the people of Jamburr to also take ownership of the health centre and avoid anything that will bring disunity among them, as that is the way they can please the sponsors.

Speaking earlier, the founder of the PS Njie Foundation, Ida Sillah-Njie, a Gambian based in the United States of America, described their move as a way of contributing to the socio-economic development of the country. She said that the people of Jamburr have been struggling to get a health centre and that they found it difficult to get to Brikama for their basic health needs. She added that the project will address their plight and ensure that they get medical care at their doorstep. Sillah-Njie also thanked the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for its support to the Foundation since the start of the project in The Gambia.

The deputy governor of West Coast Region, Fatou Sanyang, similarly underscored that the new health centre will greatly enhance the livelihood of the people of Jamburr. The National Assembly member for Kombo South, Hon. Abdou Colley, described the development as a blessing to the community.