Sir Howard Dalton Clinic
Our work in the up-country village of Jappineh began, as is often the case, with a new nursery school. It has now expanded to include a much-needed hospital project for the same community.
This exciting project was made possible by generous donations made in memory of Sir Howard Dalton, the brilliant late husband of African Oyster Trust lynchpin Kira Dalton.
These donations allowed us to fully refurbish a suitable building, create a compound around it, purchase a year's worth of medicine and equipment and pay for seven staff members' salaries for a full year.
This exciting project was made possible by generous donations made in memory of Sir Howard Dalton, the brilliant late husband of African Oyster Trust lynchpin Kira Dalton.
These donations allowed us to fully refurbish a suitable building, create a compound around it, purchase a year's worth of medicine and equipment and pay for seven staff members' salaries for a full year.
We are now providing on-going support to ensure this area continues to have a well-stocked and well-run pre and post-natal clinic - absolutely vital when you consider that a serious illness or problem in childbirth could previously have resulted in a long and painful car journey for several hours in search of medical help.
Outpatient facilities were opened in March 2009 and, even during the opening ceremony, queues of patients began to form. Currently, an average of 750 patients are being treated every month.
In 2011 funds were raised in order to purchase the first ambulance for this clinic, licence plate MEL1. The full story behind MEL1 can be found here. A generous legacy allowed a replacement ambulance to be purchased in 2024 which carries the licence plate MEL2. More details about the replacement ambulance and other good news about this clinic can be found here and here.
The hospital is delivering 20-30 babies every month, and are delighted to report that as a result of the anti-natal care being offered, birth weights are above the Gambian average.
Outpatient facilities were opened in March 2009 and, even during the opening ceremony, queues of patients began to form. Currently, an average of 750 patients are being treated every month.
In 2011 funds were raised in order to purchase the first ambulance for this clinic, licence plate MEL1. The full story behind MEL1 can be found here. A generous legacy allowed a replacement ambulance to be purchased in 2024 which carries the licence plate MEL2. More details about the replacement ambulance and other good news about this clinic can be found here and here.
The hospital is delivering 20-30 babies every month, and are delighted to report that as a result of the anti-natal care being offered, birth weights are above the Gambian average.
Wellingara Health Centre
The African Oyster Trust provides vital support and management expertise to a health centre in the small Gambian town of Wellingara.
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Inspired by our successful management of the Sir Howard Dalton Clinic in Jappineh,the charity which previously managing Wellingara Health Centre asked us to assume responsibility for it from 2018. The full story of how the African Oyster Trust took over supporting this clinic can be found here.
On taking over this responsibility, the Trust appointed a new administrator, Dembo Njie. With ongoing support from the Trust, Dembo and his team have transformed the clinic. Longstanding maintenance issues have been resolved, including potentially fatal problems with the entire electrical infrastructure. An old ambulance was found and refurbished, and a new driver appointed, allowing the centre do deliveries and make urgent but safe referrals to the main hospital at Fajikunda. |
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Wellingara continues to thrive under the skilful management of Dembo Njie, assisted by Buba Dampha. In 2023 their turnover will be in the region of D1 million – enough to pay all of their own staff and to make a substantial contribution to their cost of replacing medication. The African Oyster Trust is committed to continuing to help with the additional medicines purchasing and ambulance running costs for the forseeable future.
All content copyright 2024 by The African Oyster Trust. Registered Charity No 1118298.