Culled from the Daily Observer of 16/01/02 D42 MILLION DALASI PROJECT FOR SERE KUNDA. The vice president, Her Excellency Mrs Isatou Njie Saidy, last Monday, laid the foundation stone for a 42 million Dalasi hospital in Kanifing, close to the Management Development Institute (MDI). In his welcoming remarks, the chairman of the Kanifing municipality, Mr Abdoulie Conteh, said the project was conceived by the president about two years ago and "we are delighted that this is going to happen this year." Mr Conteh therefore urged people in the area to rally behind the APRC for continuous development. In his statement, the secretary of state for health and social welfare, Yankuba Gassama said: “you will recall that a contract estimated at 42 million Dalasi was signed on Monday January 7, 2002, between Gamsen Company Limited and DoSH on behalf of government. I am delighted also because we have moved closer to ensuring that the President’s campaign promise to the people of Serekunda is being fulfilled without delay”. SoS Gassama added that a hospital in the KMC area would significantly reduce pressure on Royal Victoria Hospital in Banjul. The 125 bed hospital, SoS Gassama explained, would consist of 4 main buildings of two-storey blocks that would provide services to address accident and emergencies, a theatre complex to enable essential surgery and emergency obstetrics to be carried out. It will also cater for outpatients (OPD), mother and child health (MCH), laboratory, dental, X-Ray, antenatal ward, postnatal ward, Labour ward, gynae ward, intensive care ward, theatre, CSSD, radiology unit, gynae clinic, medical and surgical clinics, administrative offices and appropriate support facilities such as kitchen, laundry, stoves, amongst others. Therefore, when completed, it will significantly contribute to the further reduction of infant and maternal mortality, thereby improving the social and economic status of Gambia people. In delivering her statement, vice-president Njie Saidy said: “in line with the importance that government places on the health sector, it is important to note that other projects in the health sector include the construction of four new minor health centres in Kafuta, Albreda, Foday Kunda and Sarra Kunda, expected to commence by the end of the second quarter of this year. Also in the pipeline is the rehabilitation of 13 minor health centres throughout the country”. Madam Njie Saidy also disclosed that the African Development Bank had approved the civil works contract under the Health Services Development Project for the construction/upgrading of six health facilities, the contracts for which were signed with ALCO Gambia Ltd, on December 27. This contract, worth about 17 million Dalasis, provides for the rehabilitation, upgrading, equipping of health facilities and the provision of adequate staff housing in Basse, Yorobawol, Fatoto, Kuntaur, Kiang Karantaba and Brufut. The contract for the rehabilitation and upgrading of six Primary Health facilities in the North Bank Division has also been signed. The sites have been handed over to the contractors and work has already started. The health facilities to be rehabilitated and or upgraded are Madina Bafuloto, Kuntaur, Kerewan, Illiassa, Salikene and Ngagen Sanjai”. Other speakers included SoS for tourism, Yankuba Touray, SoS for works and communication and information, Edward Singhateh, amongst others. Others presents at the occasion were SoS for Justice, Joseph Joof, SoS for youths and sport, M. Sarjo Jallow SoS for Interior, Ousman Badjie, Amadou Samba of Gamsen and Tamsir Jallow, the majority leader in the National Assembly. _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>