Hon. Alpha Ben Mansaray Urges Govt to Build Health Center in Neglected Bumpeh Chiefdom
By Abdul Rahman Bah
Hon. Alpha Ben Mansaray, Deputy Spokesperson for the All People’s Congress (APC) in Parliament and Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Information and Civic Education has issued an impassioned plea for the establishment of a Community Health Center (CHC) in Bumpeh Chiefdom, Moyamba District.
Speaking at the recent Civic Day organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Mansaray underscored a glaring disparity in healthcare infrastructure within the district. Out of the 14 chiefdoms in Moyamba, Bumpeh remains the only one without a government-owned CHC. Instead, the chiefdom relies on 11 Peripheral Health Units (PHUs), which primarily focus on maternal and child health, leaving broader healthcare needs unmet.
Since 2014, the main health facility in Rotifunk, the chiefdom headquarters, has operated under difficult conditions. Initially housed in the United Methodist Church (UMC) hospital, the facility was forced to relocate when the UMC reclaimed ownership. In response, Hon. Mansaray and Mr Samuel Parsons sought help from the late Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay, who generously offered his private home as a temporary solution. This makeshift clinic has since functioned with minimal support, receiving only modest maintenance contributions from the Moyamba District Council and the District Health Management Team (DHMT).
Currently, this improvised health centre serves an estimated population of 38,740 residents, according to the 2021 census, a burden far beyond its limited capacity.
Recognizing the urgent need for equitable healthcare access, Hon. Mansaray has called on the Deputy Minister of Health, the Ministry of Health, and the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) to prioritize the construction of a modern Community Health Center in Rotifunk. His appeal aims to rectify years of neglect and ensure that the people of Bumpeh Chiefdom receive the essential health services they deserve.
