Philanthropists from Holland are supporting the Banjulunding Health Center to build a Maternity Ward to serve the community and surrounding settlements. This information was disclosed by the Village Development Committee (VDC) who invited reporters to the construction work that is presently in progress at the Health Centre.

Speaking to this reporter Momodou Lamin Jarju, alias Rongo, said the project is really important to the community of Banjulunding and the surrounding villages. He disclosed that the project to build this maternity ward actually began some years ago and is being funded by some Dutch philanthropists. He said he encouraged the sponsors to intervene in this area to support the development of the community. He said this was preceded by a similar intervention by sponsors who funded the re-construction of the fence of the Health Centre. He said it was realized that the Centre needs a separate Labour Ward which is different from the existing one which adjoins the other wards.

Mr Saikou Sambou, the VDC Adviser, expressed his delight that Banjulunding is coming to have a new maternity ward. He thanked the Health Ministry for having approved the project and for the construction work to proceed. He also thanked the Holland based Honey and Co Foundation for sponsoring the whole project. He said Banjulinding really needed a maternity ward which is separate from the other wards in order to provide privacy for the women who are in labour. He said the project upon completion would not only benefit Banjulinding but the seven other surrounding settlements who depend on the Health Centre for health services.

Mr. Sambou seized the occasion to call on the people of Banjulunding to unite and work for the development of the village. He said it is unity that is making some of these things possible as the labour is being provided by the volunteers in the community.

He finally thanked the donors for the support and Rongo for facilitating it. He said the work is progressing very well hopefully will be ready soon.

The VDC organizer, Mr Foday Jamba, made similar remarks.

It is said that the building when ready will contain a Labour, Post Mortem and Anti Natal wards as well as Nursing Station. Reporters found the contractors and village volunteers working on the building construction site.