Gambiaj.com – (LOWER BADDIBU, The Gambia) – Residents of Lower Baddibu have urged President Adama Barrow to establish a hospital in the district, saying the lack of a major health facility remains one of their most pressing challenges despite improvements in roads, electricity, water, and education.
The appeal was made during a joint meeting of Lower and Central Baddibu communities at Mbambori Kunda as part of President Barrow’s 2026 Meet the People Tour.
Ali Bah, Alkalo of Mbambori Kunda, said residents appreciated the government’s development projects in the area but wanted greater attention to healthcare.
“President Barrow, here in Lower Baddibu, there is a big problem we are facing, and we need your helping hand in solving that problem. The problem is a lack of a hospital in Lower Baddibu. We don’t have a hospital here, and we need a hospital here,” Bah said.
He cited electricity, water, schools, and roads among the improvements made in the area and commended Agriculture Minister Demba Sabally for providing farmers with fertilizer.
Bah also thanked Health Minister Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh for providing the community with an ambulance but said a hospital was still needed to improve access to healthcare.
‘We need a big hospital’
Women’s Representative Fatou Bah also appealed to the President, saying the community had benefited from several government projects but continued to face difficulties accessing healthcare.
“We are still appealing for you to help us with a hospital here in Lower Baddibu, President Barrow. We need a big hospital here so that the people of Lower Baddibu will not suffer anymore,” she said.
She also called for the establishment of a women’s garden to support women’s livelihoods in the area.
Youth Representative Aye Bah said Mbambori Kunda was strategically located to serve several surrounding communities, strengthening the case for a health facility there.
“Kerewan is far from this area, and Mbambori Kunda is the center of this area. We have nine villages that come here in Mbambori Kunda to vote. So President Barrow helped these nine villages to have a hospital here. That will make the work easy,” he said.
Barrow promises assessment before decision.
Responding to the appeals, President Barrow said the government would first assess the healthcare needs of Lower Baddibu communities before determining what type of facility should be established.
“The issue of the hospital you raise here, the Minister of Health is sitting there. He said not every village can have a hospital. But we will look at the villages and do our assessment before building a hospital,” President Barrow said.
He said the assessment would determine whether the area required a hospital or another type of health facility before the government made plans for construction.
The President also maintained that his administration had fulfilled most of the promises made to communities since it came to power, as he continued his tour of communities across the country ahead of the December 5 presidential election.
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