Basse, Upper River Region, 25th November 2019 - The Basse annex of The Gambia College

that President Barrow commissioned last year is near completion and will begin operations in

January 2020.

Local authorities led by the Principal of The Gambia College told the president that the first

batch of students that will be housed at the State of the Art facilities have already been enrolled.

The college will provide students, especially those in the Upper River Region and its environs,

access to college education without having to migrate to the urban areas. The decentralization of

development and social services will minimize rural-urban drift, thereby easing pressure on

social services in the Greater Banjul Areas

Meanwhile, President Barrow also made a brief stop at Basse Health Center to preside over the

donation of medical items, equipment, and other consumables worth D700k from the People's

Republic of China.

The visit to Basse hospital also gave the President an opportunity to see first hand the impact of

the free medical services being rendered by the Chinese Medical Team. Led by the Chinese

Ambassador to The Gambia, His Excellency Ma Jianchun, the team briefed the president that

they conduct periodic medical excursions to other catchment areas beyond Basse.