We see more and more patients at Jahaly Health Centre since 2012. In 2020 we saw 32,284 patients (2019: 34,000, 2018: 32,000, 2017: 27,000, 2016: 44,800) , in 2015 we treated 46,190 patients (2014 and 2013 about 27,000 patients) – in-patients as well as out-patients. In 2012 there were 20,000 patients. The increase is due to the fact that the governmental health facilities hardly ever have enough medication available and that the patients have to buy the medication in – mostly private – pharmacies at a relatively high price. At Jahaly Health Centre, patients receive their treatment and laboratory tests for a small fee. The registration fee for children under five is 25 Dalasis (EUR 0.20). Patients aged 5 and above pay 50 Dalasis (EUR 0.50). In April 2021, a flat medication fee of 100 Dalasis (EUR 1,65) was introduced.
In 2020 89 patients (2019: 86, 2018: 133, 2017: 192 , 2016: 197 , 2015: 250, 2014: 185, 2013: 124, 2012: 155) were transfered for further treatment to the state hospital of Bansang which is 40 kilometer away .
Maternity Ward (Georg-Gottlob-House)
In 2020 48 babies (2019: 51, 2018: 63, 2017: 60 , 2016: 70 , 2015: 106, 2014: 86, 2013: 78, 2012: 80) were born in the Georg-Gottlob-House of Jahaly Health Centre. To increase the acceptance by the population, to take the children to the clinic for delivery, we are working closely with the traditional local midwives of the surrounding villages. The local midvives shall be present at the delivery, to accompany this. In particular, the hygiene conditions at the clinic have shown that infections (puerperal fever) for women can be mostly prevented. Twice a month, a team from the World Health Organization WHO visits Jahaly Health Centre and does screening and vaccinations with small children. Also here Jahaly Health Centre serves as a focal point for mothers with infants.
Laboratory tests
To verify the diagnosis and initiate proper treatment, the clinic has an own laboratory. In this lab, the following investigations are mainly carried out:
Detection of malaria parasites in the blood
Determination of hemoglobin
Count of white blood cells
Urine analyzes
Stool samples
Pregnancy tests
Tests for detection of sexually transmitted diseases
Dental Unit
**Closed until further notice (November 2019)** The dental treatment unit was reopened in August 2017 after a long period of closedown due to a lack of staff. In 2019 the dental unit treated 1,362 patients (2018: 1,408). Between August and December 2017 559 patients were treated. In 2014 before the closedown 287 patients were treated. In 2007 there were 2,243 patients. The dental unit in Jahaly is not working with rotary instruments for caries removal. Caries is scraped free of pain with sharp instruments and filled accordingly. Moreover, in the dental unit we do extractions..
Emergency Unit
Jahaly Health Centre provides an Emergency Unit. This is a special room equipped with all resources which are necessary for an acute emergency treatment.
Ambulance Car
Jahaly Health Centre has no operating facilities and no blood bank. For extreme illnesses and the need for surgery, a transport of patients to the 40-kilometer-away state hospital of Bansang is necessary. For this purpose, Jahaly Health Centre keeps an ambulance car ready.
Staff
At Jahaly Health Centre no doctors are working. The Head of the Clinic is a Community Health Nurse (CHN). The years tense staff situation has noticeably improved in mid-2014, because now three nurses whose training has paid by Project Aid The Gambia, strengthen the clinic team in Jahaly after their final exam. Currently, the team includes four registered nurses and ten auxiliary nurses. In addition two laboratory auxiliary assistant, a driver (ambulance car), two security guards (day/night) and three cleaners work for the clinic.
Continuing Education
Regularly Dr. Hassan Azadeh from the University of The Gambia, is visiting Jahaly Health Centre to retrain staff and to assist in the treatment of particularly complicated cases and chronically ill patients. Proper and sustainable hygiene at Jahaly Health Centre is a constant challenge. The cleaners from Jahaly are trained at the Senegambia Beach Hotel in the coastal region in a six-week course prior to their work at Jahaly Health Centre. In July 2014 Lamin Njie, housekeeping manager of the hotel, visited Jahaly Health Centre for a ten-day “refresher training”. He sacrificed for his annual leave.
Staff Housing
Due to the distance from the capital city and the already existing rural exodus, Project Aid The Gambia has to offer the staff above-average salaries and appropriate housing options. For this, a total of seven staff houses with three to six rooms are available. There are also two staff kitchens, an employees´garden and a meeting hut (“Bantaba”).
Water and electricity supply
Uniquely for such projects in rural areas of The Gambia there is a 24/7 permanent water supply. Therefore a high-tank with a capacity of 16,000 liters was built, which is fed via a pump from a deep well. A solar energy system, which was extended for the last time in November 2015 to an output of 20 kilowatts and corresponding solar batteries (2,800 Ah) ensures 24-/7 uninterrupted power supply. In February 2019 Jahaly Health Centre was connected to the public power grid. In the villages Jahaly and Madina most families can’t afford the connection to the power grid. Water has to be pumped from wells by hand.
These measures and the structural requirements (all the houses are built in massive construction, all floors are tiled, as well as the walls of the rooms of the clinic and of the treatment units up to a height of two meters), the regular renovation of all buildings at a distance of two to three years (last February/March 2020) and the good facilities with drugs and laboratory materials contribute to Jahaly Health Centre is considered a role model for rural health care in The Gambia.
More facts and figures you may find in our Annual Reports | here |