Tallinding Children's Health Centre
Our initial five-year project supported the work of the Tallinding Children’s Health Centre between 2013 and 2018.
This project ended with a five-year review in December 2018 with extremely positive outcomes from a clinical, financial, and operational perspective.
The local Council took over the management of the successful Centre. This has now allowed the trustees to re-direct the Charity to a broader focus on future activities such as The Bendon Bursary and other health-related causes operating in The Gambia.
We supported the work of the first children’s health centre in The Gambia for Five years
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the smallest country on the continent of Africa with a population of 2,083.140 (2016);
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where 34% of the population live on less than one US dollar per day (2007);
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where only 3.1% of total population is over 65 and life expectancy is 61 for men and 66 for women;
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where 40% of population is under 15 years of age.
(data: www.worldbank.org : www.countrymeters.info/en/Gambia and www.economywatch.com/economic-statistics/Gambia/Age_Structure)
A Centre in the heart of Serrekunda
The age distribution model is an expanding type and The Gambia population pyramid is common for developing countries with high birth and death rates, relatively short life expectancy as well as low levels of education, and poor health care.
The Tallingding Children's Health Centre is located in the heart of Serrekunda – the largest urban centre in the country with a population of 46,020, of which 5,531 are under-fives and 20,310 females. 40% of the total population is aged between 0-14.
Malaria in The Gambia
Africa accounts for 85% of malaria cases in the world and 90% of malaria deaths.
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There are ½ million cases of malaria each year – nearly 1 in 3 of the population
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87% of malaria deaths occur in children under the age of five
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Malaria is the single highest killer of children under 5
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20% of children under the age of 5 died from malaria in 2012
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There are 6 nurses to every 10,000 head of population
Seasonal dangers
There are two distinct periods in activity. June – October includes the rainy season and this is when Malaria can hit hard.
During this time, The Centre can keep its doors open till 9 at night. However, this does not correspond with the tourist season, November – May, so tourists rarely see the effects of malaria on the human mind and body.
In the hectic period, Tallinding Children’s Health Centre staff sees over 100 patients each day.
