In spite of the gain registered by the Senegalese government there are several problems in the current health system; populations in hard-to-reach areas have barely begun to demand services. One such area is Toubab Dialaw a suburb of Dakar.
However; it is against this background that Infa International Familien Hilfe in collaboration with Apotheker Helfen an Association of Pharmacists base in Munchen; Germany on Saturday Inaugurated a Euros 50,000 maternity project in the community of Toubab Dialaw to improve access to maternal health.
Touba Dialaw is located in the rural community of Yene 45 kilometer from Dakar. The inaugural ceremony which brought together a cross section of the pharmacists from Germany; a representative of the German Embassy Dakar; villagers and local dignitaries in Toubab Dialaw and its suburbs was characterized by cultural dance and drumming.
The women of Touba Dialaw have finally heave a sigh of relief because the new maternity will help women in labor to have easy access to healthcare on time, as well as reduce the high rate of infant mortality.
The maternity consist of a delivery room, rest room, toilets, offices, a pharmacy and living for the Nurse in charge and two of her assistants.
Michaela Muller; Culture and Tourism Secretary at the German Embassy in Dakar expressed delight for her citizens’ support to German development Cooperation programmes at community level. She stressed the German Government’s willingness to collaborate with the necessary stakeholders to enhance the health needs of women and children rural communities.
Speaking to Radio Alternative Voice for Gambians in an exclusive interview Dr Gerhard Gensthaler a German Pharmacist from Munchen said the objectives of his organization is to help the sick and poor around the world especially in Sub-Saharan Africa; adding that the importance investing in maternal health cannot be over emphasized.
According to him; they have invested about Euros 50; 000 into the maternity project; he further revealed that his organization will invest an additional amount Euros 15; 000 to buy equipment and drugs for the maternity to be fully operational.
He expressed their willingness to help mothers and children with a view to help the future generation to have better growth; prevent them from malnutrition and dying prematurely.
For his part Mr. Gorgui Ciss chairman of the rural community of Yene commended stakeholders for making the project a successful one. He added that presence of the new maternity will help to improve health service delivery his locality.
The rural community chairman also emphasized significance of such kind of development aid which he said will facilitate smooth socio-economic transformation and provide the desired needs of the people in the rural community especially in the health sector.
‘The funders and their partners have done their quota and I will also collaborate with other stakeholders at the community level to ensure the smooth running and proper sustainability of the facility;’’ he stated.
Awa Diop Thiam; Senator representing Senegalese in the Diaspora expressed her preparedness to intensify her campaign to Senegalese in the Diaspora to proactively contribute to nation building. The senator added that she will also collaborate with the community to create better working conditions for the personnel in the clinic and ensure its sustainability.

Sustainability

In a move to ensure better sustainability of the project Mr. Mactar Sonko one of the funding partners of the project said a group of people young in the community has been task with the responsibility of supervising the daily activities in the health post. According Mr. Sonko; he has realize that many projects in Senegal failed due to lack of proper management and financial scam.
He called on the women in the community to take ownership of the new facility; which he said will help them avoid serious complications during pregnancy and child birth.

Women’s reaction

Reacting to development women in the community expressed delight at the new maternity project, adding that the problems they have been faced with will now be history.
Ending Infant mortality

The project has abruptly ended several years of nightmare in the community of Touba Dialaw; a community that has experienced a high number of maternal deaths with four children dying a day due to lack access to health facilities.