Wellingara Health Clinic

The Health clinic is a special project that is very important to Meg Lyon.  As a retired nurse she was able to see the strong need for health care facilities in the community, particularly after one of the women in the adult literacy classes died in childbirth. Now, five years after it was originally conceived and four years since the first cement block was laid, the building was completed. This is a testament to the hard work of the architect, local builders, volunteer labourers and generous support of many friends in the UK and Holland, not forgetting the fund raising efforts of the 1to3 Trustees.

The clinic consists of an outpatient centre, ante- and post-natal care, labour room, pharmacy, shower and toilet facilities.

We hope to build a house on site for a doctor eventually so that the clinic can cater for in-patients too but at first, there are two midwives, one male one female, plus a Volunteer trainee.  The nurses have told us to expect that patients will come from well beyond Wellingara itself as a new clinic is always perceived to be’ better’ than anything currently available.

The nurses were impressed when they first saw the facilities: a borehole for regular clean water supply; both solar and main electric power and is tiled throughout for easy cleaning.  We are sure that even this provision will not be enough to cater for all the local health needs but it is a great step forward in the care of the community.

Malaria and Mosquito Nets

Malaria kills 1500 children annually in the Gambia and it indirectly contributes to the death of hundreds more. may also result in some physical and mental disabilities (sometimes permanent) to children under five as well as the adult population. In December 2010 90% of patients visiting the Clinic were sufferiing from Malaria , about 85% of cases reported at health facilities are children under five years.

Malaria is both treatable and preventable but taking steps in the latter will greatly save lives and resources.  Minimising the spread of malaria involves two main measures:

.1. Environmental measures to control mosquito breeding; keeping the compound  clean and free from stagnant water.

.2. Measures to protect against mosquito bites – use of bed nets

The cheapest, safest, most environmentally friendly and effective way to protect against bites and infection is the use of bed nets. With many other calls on their income many families cannot afford to buy nets.  We are running a campaign to fund nets for the children and their families, as malaria is the greatest health thereat in the region to young children.

A policy for the fair distribution of nets is now in place. Bought in bulk a double-sized net costs £5.50. A group of specially trained women carry out regular dipping sessions at the clinic. A treated net is the best form of protection from mosquitoes and residents pay around 12p. per net to cover the cost of the chemical dipping tablet.

Red Cross

The Red Cross Wellingara Home Link has a small office alongside the clinic.  Young people from the community are trained First Aiders who can treat minor injuries; indeed they are doing so already. In 2007 they were called into action when several compounds in the nearby villages of Sinchu Baliya and Nemakuku were flooded during the rainy season.  Since then they have received further flood disaster response training.

They give voluntary home care to sick people in the community; carry out cleansing operations around the clinic area, market and dump sites.