By Buba Gagigo
The Diaspora Club, a Gambian non-profit organization, has accused the government of hindering its plans to construct a maternity ward in Chamen village, Nianija District. The allegations were made during a press conference held on Sunday, where the club expressed frustration over the Ministry of Health’s decision to revoke clearance for the project.
“The decision by the Ministry of Health to rescind the clearance for the Diaspora Club to build a much-needed Maternity ward in Chamen Village, Nianija is quite disappointing. We find the decision both rash and unacceptable,” stated Mam Busso Jack Bahoum, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Diaspora Club.
According to the organization, between December 2022 and February 2023, it launched an initiative to address maternal health challenges by constructing maternity wards in underserved communities across the country. The club claims to have worked closely with the Ministry of Health and the Chamen community, following the Ministry’s guidance, to develop an acceptable construction plan.
On July 22, 2024, the Ministry reportedly granted clearance for the project, prompting the Diaspora Club to commission a contractor to begin construction. However, complications arose on December 30, 2024, when members of the club, many of whom are based in Europe and North America, traveled to Chamen for the foundation-laying ceremony.
“The Ministry of Health on July 22nd, 2024, having been satisfied with our plan, issued the organization a clearance to build the Maternity Ward. The organization acting on this contracted a builder to construct the building.
On December 30th, 2024, members of the Organization who all reside in Europe and North America converged to lay the foundation, but to our chagrin, we were informed that a top government official had called the village’s Alkali to dissuade him from the event,” the PRO explained.
The PRO, however, carried out the ceremony with what she described as the enthusiastic support of the villagers.
“It was an emotional ceremony, as villagers narrate stories of challenges faced by maternal women, including two women sharing the same bed to give birth. These stories rekindled our resolve to see this project through. Therefore, the decision by the Ministry of Health to revoke the clearance to build the much-needed maternity ward is not done in good faith. We believe that the Ministry’s decision is shrouded in cynicism and vindictiveness, done to not only undermine the Diaspora Club but to deny the poor suffering women of Chamen and surrounding communities proper healthcare. We call on the Ministry of Health to allow us to continue with this project for the greater benefit of the country,” she explained.
The Ministry of Health, however, provided an official explanation for the decision. In a letter to the Diaspora Club, the Ministry cited plans funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to renovate the Chamen Health Center as the reason for the cancellation.
“I regret to write to cancel the initial clearance issued Ref: DHS/AD/2024/07 (MTN 33) dated 22 July 2024 allowing you to build a maternity block in Chamen Health Center in the Nianija District of Central River Region. This shift of plan is due to a secured grant from the Africa Development Bank (AFDB) through the National Social Protection Secretariat to build new structures and renovate existing ones of the entire health center. The Ministry of Health appreciates your offer and would be grateful if your support could be redirected to support other areas. The Ministry of Health takes this opportunity to thank you for your support,” the ministry stated.
Founded in 2017, the Diaspora Club is registered in both The Gambia and the United States. The organization has been dedicated to giving back to the country, with its notable contributions including the refurbishment of the Children’s Ward at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) and donations of blankets, sanitary products, and other supplies to Mile 2 prisons.
Despite the setback, the club has called on the Ministry to reconsider its decision and allow the project to proceed, emphasizing its importance for the women of Chamen and neighboring communities.