By Yusupha Jobe
Community Health Intervention through Musical Engagement (CHIME) for perinatal mental health, sponsored by Medical Research Council (MRC), AHRC, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoH&SW), National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and The Goldsmith University of London, has visited the Lower Niumi District village of Ndungu Kebbeh in North Bank Region, for the sharing of their research findings on perinatal mental health.
In his opening ceremony at the event on Friday, 16th of November 2019, the village Alkalo, Pa Malick Kebbeh, warmly welcomed the team to his village, and assured them of their unflinching support and active participation in the programme.
The village head also urged the villagers to exercise maximum decorum in order to gain the required knowledge and attitudinal change. Thereafter, the Chairman of Ndungu Kebbeh Village Development Committee (VDC), Pa Malick Drammeh, also expressed similar remarks.
Professor Lauren Stewart, the project spokesperson, thanked the village Alkalo and the VDC chairman for their “heart-touching” opening remarks.
Prof. Stewart also expressed appreciation for the remarks and the warm welcome the villagers accorded the visiting team.
Referring to their findings regarding perinatal mental health, Prof. Stewart indicated inter lia, that women need both psychological and emotional health, especially during pregnancy. And that, men should be heroes in emotional and psychological health for their wives during pregnancy.
She added that their research has revealed that if the psychological and emotional mental health of the pregnant woman is not properly taken care of, it would inevitably hinder the unborn one. Therefore, she stressed the need for men’s support to their pregnant women.
Also present at the event was a renowned Gambian artist nicknamed MLK {Marthin Lyrics King}.
The rising star musician sang a melodiously song, at the gathering, composed of inspiring messages relating to proper taking care of a pregnant woman. Therein, he also advised the men folk to take better care of their wives, especially during pregnancy.
He explained the roaring of his song, and went on to commend the villagers for the warm welcome, and their (villagers’) active participation in the programme.
The Village Drama Group, under the dynamic leadership of Aji Kumba Gaye acted a play on the theme: “Take care of pregnant woman”. As the name suggests, the drama was very educative because it has portrayed numerous lapses of men, especially when their wives are pregnant. The drama was very much appealing that the crowd roared in consent.
A question and answer session was conducted by Prof. Stewart and the responses from the villagers were “very effective”. Among the questions she asked of them were, whether a baby can see in her mother’s womb; and “Can a baby hear in her mother’s womb or after six months?
One of the respondents, Jabou Gaye, answered that babies cannot see in their mothers’ wombs till after birth. Ali Ndow argued that babies do see in their mothers’ wombs.
For his part, Project Spokesperson Prof. Stewart clarified all misconceptions, pointing out that a baby could only see after birth; and she also said a baby could hear inside her mother’s womb. Prof. Steward thanked the respondents for their answers.
In concluding, Village Alkalo Kebbeh re-echoed his appreciation for the visit, and also hailed the Village Health Doctor, Mr. Yankuba Balajo for his steadfastness in his work.
The Ndungu Kebbeh village head also prayed for adherence, perseverance and attitudinal change in his beloved village, while urging his villagers to take a giant step in assisting pregnant women.
In a similar development, the lady at the helm of the Drama Group, Aji Kumba Gaye, expressed similar sentiments, and she highlighted key areas in the village that need urgent attention from philanthropists, central government or charitable organization, globally.
She cited the need for a standardized health center and good ambulance to ease the maternal mortality rates in the village and the satellite villages.
The event official wrapped up with presentation of gifts and individual prayers in their respective ways.
