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Barry L Wells, the US ambassador to The Gambia yesterday wrapped-up his three-day tour of project sites in the country with a visit to projects in the Upper River Region (URR).

At Demba Kunda in Jimara District, the community named their health centre after the ambassador, a move meant to show appreciation for the tremendous assistance the embassy rendered in the rehabilitation of the health centre last year.

In a related but separate development, a woman who delivered a bouncing baby boy while the ambassador and delegation were still in the village inspecting the rehabilitated health centre also named her baby after Ambassador Wells.

Speaking during the visit, the chairman of the Demba Kunda Health Centre, Ba Kanja Drammeh disclosed that the US Embassy assisted them with chairs, water, solar panels, toilets and fans for the smooth running of the centre, and thanked the embassy for the gesture. He then informed the gathering that all the catchment areas have come to a consensus to name the centre after the US ambassador. He explained that the gesture was meant to show the ambassador that the community appreciated the support given by the US Government to the clinic through the Office of Security Cooperation in the US State Department .

Speaking on behalf of the youths, one Bakary Camara stated that the US Embassy has done a good work and has shown to Gambians that they are here for everybody. He further informed the gathering that the toilets, solar panels and fans that the embassy has provided are still functional and that the regional health team is supplying the centre with drugs.

Lady president, Ba Fofana remarked that they will never forget the assistance rendered by the US embassy, adding that the health workers are working very hard to satisfy the patients and the community. Baba Jeng, regional health team officer in URR, while noting that the US Embassy has contributed its? quota, advised the people of the community to take good care of the health centre.

For his part, Ambassador Barry Wells expressed gratitude that the health centre and a baby were named after him. "If you don't have good health you cannot do anything because a healthy population is a healthy peace of mind," he remarked. He also stated that the health centre named after him represents the American people and expressed hope that it would provide access to health care and also used by everybody. He then advised the community to maintain the health centre as it belongs to them. He finally congratulated the mother who delivered that morning and named her baby after him.

Other speakers at the ceremony included the deputy governor, Momodou S Jallow, who thanked the US Embassy for the kind gesture and urged the community of Demba Kunda to make a good use of the facility.

Ambassador Wells and delegation later proceeded to the Unique FM Radio Station, and were received by the studio manager, Naffie Senghore who conducted a short interview with the US diplomat.

At the end of the programme, the community of Demba Kunda presented some gifts to the ambassador and his delegation as a show of appreciation.