The Gambia – SOS Medical and Social Centres

In the Gambia there is currently one Social Centre and one Medical Centre for children and the local community, both in Bakoteh.  Many SOS Social Centres operate via Family Strengthening Programmes, which aim to support the wider community.  Medical Centres provide treatment and services to the local community. Below is some information about some of the Social Centres that SOS Children runs in the Gambia:

SOS Social Centre in the Gambia: In-Depth

Bakoteh

Description of SOS Social Centre/FSP:

The SOS Social Centre Bakoteh is a community initiative reflecting the need for a place which offers kindergarten education and training in skills for the children and youths of the community as well as functional literacy classes for women in particular. The Centre is composed of two kindergarten classrooms, two training classrooms, a multipurpose hall, kitchen, dining room, cafeteria, office, two store rooms and five toilet facilities. It also responds to the need for an adequate and central meeting place, with its multipurpose hall and its cafeteria

Work and Achievements:

During the year, the SOS Family Strengthening Programme embarked on a series of activities in the Bakoteh Zone which were all aimed at ensuring the proper implementation of programme activities in order to meet the objectives on time and to further ensure that the aims and objectives of the programme are clearly understood by communities and families alike so as to dispel all misconceptions concerning programme focus. In this light, several trainings and sensitizations were conducted both at administrative and community level to prepare the staff to better work towards programme success and to also enhance communities understanding and role towards this endeavour.  FSP Bakoteh counts 587 Children beneficiaries 132 caregivers in 132 families.

SOS Medical Centre in the Gambia: In-Depth

Bakoteh

Description of SOS Medical Centre:

The SOS Medical Centre (SOS Mother & Child Clinic) offers health care and medical services in the following areas: general health care, pre-natal health care, family planning, prevention of diseases, vaccinating children, first aid and emergency treatments. Due to its modern equipment, its well-trained co-workers and the high standard of medical treatment, the SOS Medical Centre has become one of the most important medical institutions in the country. More than 70 people from the SOS Children's Village and the local community are treated at the SOS Medical Centre each day.