Baby Packs

Janjanbureh Health Centre

Janjanbureh is located in the Central River Region of The Gambia, 300km upstream from Banjul, the capital city of The Gambia.

Janjanbureh Health Centre is one of the minor health centres in Janjanbureh District. The facility is located within Janjanbureh and covers the entire Janjanbureh and some parts of The Sami District. It covers 36 communities, with a catchment area population of approximately 18,184(projected from the last census in 2013). It is the key health facility within the district.

Many of the communities here live off grid and in extremely basic conditions. Newborn babies are often wrapped in old cloths as mothers are unable to afford to buy new cloths, clothes or nappies.

The introduction of the ‘Baby Pack’ project here has meant that those giving birth in the health centre receive clothes, blankets and nappies for their newborn.
Ebrima Sabally the nurse in charge explains the impact the project has had.

Since the distribution of the baby packs delivery numbers have increased. Women will travel as much as 30km to come and deliver their baby in janjanbureh health center because of the benefit and the good nursing care service that is rendered here by the trained qualified nurses. Mothers are very happy about the gift; according to them they find it very difficult to provide those baby cloth in 1-3 weeks after delivery because some are not financially stable and some live in remote areas.

The impact of this pack to the health centre and the needy has been huge:

  • It has minimized the baby having sepsis infection in the facility
  • It controls the baby body temperature especially when they are properly wrap in the cloth
  • It encourages most of the women to come and deliver their babies in the facility
  • The monthly delivery was increase due to the baby pack that they receive

The babies delivered in the facility for the year 2022 is 480, an increase on the previous year. I believe 50% of the delivery was because of the baby pack and the good nursing service that is rendered in the health centre.

How can you help?

  • By making a donation to the project via this website
    • £10 will provide a ‘baby pack’, consisting of long-sleeve sleep suits, short-sleeve baby suits/vests, nappies, a blanket, socks and a pack of baby wipes.
    • £5 will buy 5 terry towelling nappies.
    • (100% of any monies donated will be used to support this project. We do not take any money for salaries or administrative costs.)
  • By donating (new and used): babygrows, vests, socks, nappies, wet wipes, booties, blankets, sleep suits, baby clothes, hats, muslin cloths.
  • By Knitting or crocheting: Blankets, jackets, jumpers, cardigans, hats and booties.

How can you help?

  • By making a donation to the project via this website
    • £5 will buy 5 terry towelling nappies.
    • £10 will provide a ‘baby pack’, consisting of long-sleeve sleep suits, short-sleeve baby suits/vests, nappies, a blanket, socks and a pack of baby wipes.
    • (100% of any monies donated will be used to support this project. We do not take any money for salaries or administrative costs.)
  • By donating (new and used): babygrows, vests, socks, nappies, wet wipes, booties, blankets, sleep suits, baby clothes, hats, muslin cloths.
  • By Knitting or crocheting: Blankets, jackets, jumpers, cardigans, hats and booties.

If you can help in any way or would like more information we would love to hear from you.

Please contact Bev Hodt: bevhodt@projectgambia.org.uk