Medical centre Kartung

In 2003 two general practitioners on holiday were asked to assist with a delivery in Kartung . They were confronted with the very poor medical facilities in Kartung, a town situated in the deep south at Senegal’s border with the Gambia.
The medical centre was very basic, a concrete building without any medical equipment.
The doctors decided to do something about this. They set up a foundation, Stichting Evenaar (Equator Foundation), and started fundraising. The medical centre was enlarged, reconstructed and equipped. In 2004 the Challenge donated a Mercedes ambulance, which is still in use at the medical centre. The centre is now housed in a decent building with a delivery room, surgery, ward, laboratory, waiting room and outpatients’ clinic. Electricity is supplied by way of solar panels and wind energy. Among the staff there is a gynaecologist, laboratory assistant and a nurse.

Campsite Equator Lodge 
In appreciation of all this the population of Kartung donated a piece of land to the Foundation.
This plot, right near the ocean, was gradually fitted out as a campsite, with a beach restaurant, some cabins and sanitary facilities. The proceeds were to support the medical centre. It also became the finish for the Challengers. Right now the campsite is derelict.
Due to mismanagement and the poor state of repair of the sanitary facilities the Challengers no longer use this campsite and nor do any other guests. The campsite is beautifully located and it could be a good source of revenue for Kartung, if run properly.

Chicken farm
In 2008 two cars were driven for the project chicken farm in Kartung. In all 6000 euros were raised.
This result and the funds collected by the Equator Foundation enabled the set up of a chicken farm in Kartung. The intention was that the proceeds of this farm would keep the medical centre running. It did not happen that way because of lack of experience on the part of the farm management.
The idea is now to restart the chicken farm in order to generate funds for Kartung medical centre. The plan is to cram 6000 chickens every six months, which is the capacity of this farm with all modern equipment. However, there is no money to pay for the chickens’ feeding, i.e. 3 euros per chicken. A restart of the farm would require 18.000 euros. The farm could be a regular source of income for the medical centre, if the management is adequate.

Appeal for support
By now there are 16 people on the payroll to keep this project running. On 1 January the main sponsor, the Equator Foundation, withdrew from this project, causing great problems and possibly a closure of the farm. This would be such a pity after all the efforts made and all that was realised. Therefore a desperate appeal is made to support this project financially.

Contactperson
Lamin Jammeh (District Counceler)
Mail: laminjammeh90@gmail.com
GSM: +2207851856