By Alieu Ceesay
Healthcare services in the North Bank Region received a significant boost on Monday as Helping Charity, in partnership with Wessex Care Ltd and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Regional Health Directorate, officially handed over essential medical supplies valued at $146,000 to Essau Health Facility.
The donation includes hospital beds, surgical gloves, and a range of other critical medical equipment and consumables, aimed at addressing longstanding shortages that have hampered patient care and working conditions for healthcare professionals.
Essau Health Facility, a key referral hospital serving over 100,000 households in the Lower Nuimi District and surrounding communities, is widely used by both Gambians and Senegalese residents along the border corridor. The new supplies are expected to significantly improve the quality and timeliness of care, particularly for women, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.
Mr. Omar B. Sonko, representing the Chief of the Region, expressed profound gratitude to the donors and urged other charitable organisations to emulate Helping Charity’s example. “This is a wonderful step for community development,” Sonko said. “Our healthcare workers have been performing admirably despite limited resources, and we encourage them to continue delivering excellent services.”
Babucarr Nyang, speaking on behalf of Helping Charity’s Board of Directors, emphasised that the donation is part of the organisation’s broader commitment to strengthening community-level healthcare. “This gesture will benefit not only Essau but all surrounding communities by enabling safer, more efficient, and timely healthcare services,” Nyang said. “It will help our dedicated healthcare workers improve patient care and contribute to better health outcomes across the region.”
He noted that while healthcare remains a priority, Helping Charity also focuses on education and other community development interventions.
Almameh Fofana, Administrative Nurse at Essau Hospital, assured the donors that the items would be well-maintained and used judiciously. “I promise you that we will take good care of these donations to ensure they serve for a long time and benefit everyone who needs them,” Fofana said.
Regional Director of Health Services North Bank West, Ebrima Baldeh, highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in national development. “The government is doing a lot, but it cannot do it alone. That is why partnerships like this are crucial,” Baldeh said. “Whatever you bring here will go a long way in addressing our challenges.”
The initiative aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to improve healthcare delivery and underscores Essau’s strategic role as a vital hub for community healthcare services across the North Bank Region.
