The PERSIF Coordination Unit in collaboration with the Bombali District Council (BDC), marked a significant milestone on 7 May 2024 by officially handing over the contractors for the Mambala Health Centre (CHC) to community stakeholders and the construction site to the contracted builders (Bilkisu).
The event was graced by key stakeholders including the project coordinator and his team, Bombali District Council Chairman Dr. Baba M. Sesay, the Ward Counsellor (Kasim S. Kanu), Chiefdom Speaker, religious leaders, and a representative from Prime Engineering Solution, the supervising Engineering Firm.
The main objective of the ceremony was to enhance the council and community ownership and sustainability of the project.
The specific objectives were:
- To officially introduce and handover contractors to the district and community stakeholders;
- To show contractors the proposed site;
- To facilitate effective monitoring of the project;
- To enhance transparency and accountability; and
- To facilitate risk mitigation.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Project Coordinator, Abdul Karim Kanu gave a brief background of the PERSIF Project and emphasized that it is part of the government’s recovery efforts to restore social and economic opportunities that were lost during the Ebola crisis. He added that the intervention aims at addressing vulnerabilities and building community resilience to effectively prevent or manage disease and respond to health emergencies.
The district Chairman, Dr. Babar M. Sesay said upon completion, the CHC will benefit three (3) sections (Makoloh, Dobanka, and Mahawan), which constitute 26 villages (including Mambala). He added having a state-of-the-art health facility and nurses’ quarters in Mambala will mitigate maternal mortality and enhance the health system in the chiefdom.
