Partnership with Gambiagrupperna and Afrikadaa Teethsavers

The Njaboute Foundation formed partnerships with both Gambiagrupperna and Afrikadaa Teethsavers in April and July of 2023

Partnerships constitute a core strategy in health promotion. Integrating different perspectives, knowledge, and the resources of various sectors through partnerships are essential in addressing complex public health issues.

Njaboute Foundation was established on core values of health care (maternal and neonatal management) as well as health education and promotion focusing on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence (GBV) and research.

The institution has its management board in Sweden with sister organization in the Gambia were community activities and healthcare management to underprivileged women and girls are performed. We have well-defined community structures where public health initiatives are undertaken using grass-root approaches. Among the SRHR activities undertaken are the right to family planning services through contraception, antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care. Hence, the need to establish a maternity hospital where clients, youths and mothers can turn to for care.

Principally, there is a shortage of maternity care services including skilled staffing, equipment, and structure to curb the demand for reproductive health services. Our existence has no doubt added value in reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. But we are always looking for those who can help us expand our vision or how we can provide our skills to other charities who need our expertise.

Gambiagrupperna are an organization that supports local organizations for a fair, equal and sustainable development in The Gambia. Through rights-based advocacy and capacity development, they work together to improve living conditions, strengthen civil society and develop sustainable societies.

We've been following the wonderful work of Gambiagrupperna for some time here at the Njaboute Foundation. Throughout the past couple of years, we've been having conversations with them to understand how we can work together to create change.

Gambiagrupperna are involved in supporting a few Non-Governmental Organizations, civil society groups and charitable organizations. These institutions undertake health service deliveries such as menstrual hygiene care, health education and promotions. In particular they can assist us with the managing of our funds, applying for larger charity funding applications and assisting us with their many years of expertise.

This has lead to an official partnership which started in April of 2023. This will allow us to greatly expand our capabilities and learn from the experience provided by those within the Gambia Group.

Afrikadaa Teethsavers are involved in both dental care (curative) and health education and promotion focusing on oral hygiene which is another neglected area in the Gambia. Whilst dental care isn't an area we are looking to focus on specifically, we are aware that many of the women and girls we see have dental issues that need addressing. This lead to initial discussions with the group on how we could collaborate to help those with dental problems.

Collaboration with Afrikadaa Teethsavers takes several forms. We'll be assisting with their research in the Gambia, performing questionnaires and other forms of data collection on dental habits in the West Coast region of the country. We will also be sharing the expertise between both groups, to assist with maternal/dental issues across a large portion of the Gambia. In the future, the collaboration may grow to include our teams collaborating directly in the field across the West Coast region (where Njaboute Foundation operates) and the Lower River region (where Afrikadaa Teethsavers operate).

We started an official partnership in July of 2023.

We here at Njaboute Foundation, are committed to sustainable partnerships where we can help each other by addressing acceptable and appropriate health challenges within our respective jurisdiction. Our core values are transparency, effective communication, collaboration, co-ordination, integration, and health equity with partners for our common good.

Healthy public policy and intersectional action in improving the lives of the local people are key elements in our practice. We, therefore, are open to negotiation(s) with any institution of similar focus operating with the confines of public health services both curative, prevention and control of SRHR components.

It you would like to consider partnering with us as either a fellow charity, business or government sponsorship, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you again, for your continued support!

Abdoulie Baldeh

Chairperson

Njaboute Foundation