Gambiaj.com – (BASSE, The Gambia) – Residents of several remote communities in The Gambia’s Upper River Region have received a boost to local health, education and sanitation services following the distribution of equipment and supplies by the Basse Area Council.
The council on Monday handed over 10 hospital beds, 72 waste collection bins, 55 classroom chairs, 44 tables, and 24 blackboards to hospitals, schools, and communities across the region during a ceremony attended by local officials and residents.
The items were secured through a longstanding partnership between the council and the Sant Feliu City Council in Girona, Spain, a collaboration aimed at supporting development initiatives in underserved communities.
Governor of the Upper River Region, Samba Bah, who attended the ceremony, described the donations as a significant intervention for rural communities that often struggle with limited resources.
“This isn’t just equipment. It’s hope for our families,” a ward councillor said during the event, reflecting the sentiments of many residents who have long contended with aging school furniture and overstretched health facilities.
Community members said the hospital beds would improve patient care and support safer deliveries for mothers, while the new desks and chairs would create a more conducive learning environment for students who previously had to cope with broken or insufficient classroom furniture.
Health workers were also seen inspecting the new beds while schoolchildren eagerly tried out the desks.
Officials noted that the latest donation marks the third major support package facilitated through the Spanish partnership. In January 2025, the council received medical equipment valued at D500,000, followed by a separate consignment of computers for schools in June of the same year.
Local authorities say the continued collaboration is helping to strengthen healthcare services, improve school infrastructure, and enhance sanitation efforts in rural communities across the Upper River Region.
They added that such partnerships remain vital as The Gambia seeks to address development challenges in remote areas through international cooperation and community-driven initiatives.
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