How it all started

Old Jeshwang is situated about seven miles from the capital Banjul of The Gambia. The Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital in Banjul serves as the secondary referral hospital for the whole country. It was often difficult for women living in Old Jeshwang to get to the hospital and the women of the village, led by Sohna Bah, approached the Old Jeshwang Village Development Committee for help. The Village Development Committee decided that Old Jeshwang, an urban village in Kanifing, should have its own health centre. The problem was how.

 

Redcoat Express, formally a cargo airline in the 1970's and 1980's, has long served West Africa with its airfreight, courier, sea freight and travel services. Redcoat manages the Banjul International Freight Centre. The Committee decided to approach Redcoat for help. Redcoat's Director, Lynn Wilson of Ardingly, knew that while the Company could offer vital logistic support, it could not at that time undertake the management or the finance of such a venture. He was able to introduce John and Margaret Dale, fellow residents of the village of Ardingly, West Sussex, both former health care professionals. After visiting the village to review the project, they decided it was worthwhile supporting. We formed the Ardingly Old Jeshwang Association and registered it as a charity in the UK and in The Gambia. We set about raising funds and recruited other professionals, including David Ogilvie Design, architects and town planners.

 

First fruits

The first buildings were built by young people from both villages as a Tesito (self help) project. These buildings were completed in 1998. Initially they were used for antenatal and infant welfare clinics. Once the main health centre was completed in 2002, with assistance from the UK Community Projects Fund, the buildings were converted into a health care library, funded by Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey Hills, offices for public health, a maintenance workshop and main stores for the Centre.

The Health Centre completed

The purpose built health centre was completed in 2002. This has enabled us to expand our services. The Department of Health of The Gambia wishes the Health Centre to be a "Centre of Excellence" in Sub-Saharan Africa. We now provide antenatal care, facilities for normal deliveries, infant welfare clinics, family planning advice, a minor casualty service, a dispensary and laboratory services from the David Bunker laboratory. We have implemented public health services to provide bed-nets to prevent malaria. We are now developing a major programme to reduce anaemia in school children and pregnant women.

Involvement of young people

An important aspect of our programme has been the involvement of young people from the UK. Medical students have carried out health care research projects for the Association and the Department of Health. Midwives have spent periods in the Centre as part of their training. Sixth form students from Ardingly College assist each year in science teaching and health education in local primary schools.