It seems the good news never ends. Folks, Under the auspices of the Health for Peace Initiative (HFPI) on the prevention of blindness, The Gambia has been selected to house the first and only Eye Care Centre in the usb-region. This project valued at millions of pounds, is the single biggest project ever sponsored by Sight Savers International anywhere in the world, targeting a population of over 18 million. The choice of The Gambia, explains Sight Savers International's representatives, is based on The Gambia Government's demonstrated commitment to Eye Care Initiatives and programmes. Earlier, His Exellency President Jammeh handed over three double cabin Ford Ramger Pick-ups for the HFPI project, to ambassadors of the member countries for onward delivery. Two cataract camp mini busses were also made available for the 'Sight By Wheels' component. These mini busses are to be used for delivering door-to-door eye care services in remote and distant locations. This came up during a meeting of health ministers of member countries in Banjul, in August 2001, to discuss proposals for launching the Health for Peace Initiative (HFPI) prevention of Blindness component. The resolutions of that meeting are captured in a document that mapped a clear course of action now known to havegiven birth to this resourceful Eye Care Centre for both referrals and training of Ophthalmologic technicians. The sponsors, Sight Savers International, are building this magnificient 1.4 million pound Sterling facility (not Dalasis or Dollars) within the Sere Kunda Hospital under constrcution. Remember this when criticising this latest hospital. The HFPI project is divided into the following areas: 1. Regional Eye Care Centre construction. 2. Regional Eye Care Centre running costs. 3. Training to Diploma in Ophthalmic nursing and advanced Diploma in Ophthalmology (DON/ADON) level for Gambians. 4. Programme Support cost. 5. DON/ADON support Package 6. District support 7. Sight By Wheels. Formerly, students were sent to Malawi for such courses but with the advent of the DON/ADON courses, students are now pursuing courses run by The University of The Gambia. The able Architectural consultants, Masterplan (a local firm, in association with Sir Fredrick Snow Internation of UK, won the offer after a cmpetetive bidding process. The company was represented by Mr. Zackaria Sillah, a chartered architect and a member of the prestigious Royal Institute of British architects (RIBA). Mr. Sillah, a graduate of Oxford university set up his company last year after several years of practice in the UK. A secondary Eye Unit will also be constructed by them in Soma. In another development, transformation of The Banjul Royal Victoria hospital into a teaching hospital is progressing nicely. Come October, Gambia's first 15 University of The Gambia educated doctors will begin their practicals there under the supervision of professional surgeons and doctors. I am surprised everyone seems to mute about the turmoil and internal wranglings within the UDP. Does the opposition want to wish it away or just didn't know? I am sure you will soon get the details. If not, I will put on the list when time permits. Have a good day, Gassa. PS: When time permits, I'll give you news of the latest companies to start operations in our country. -- There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to see, yet small enough to solve (Mike Leavitt) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or 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] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~