By Sarata L. Bojang
Starfish International has officially dedicated the Sana JattaKendeya Starfish Clinic in Lamin, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s 17-year commitment to community development. The new outpatient facility represents the next phase of Starfish’s integrated approach, which links education, health, and agriculture to improve livelihoods.
Named in honour of the late Papa Sana Jatta, the clinic is intended to stand as a lasting symbol of care, dignity, and wellness. According to the organization, the Mandinka name “Jattakendeya,” meaning “good health,” reflects both a tribute to his legacy and a promise to the community.
The dedication follows a two-day mobile health clinic held on April 1–2 at the Starfish campus, during which more than 125 patients from Lamin and surrounding areas received treatment. Starfish International reported that alumni doctors and nurses, Gambian volunteer physicians, and Peer Health Students collaborated with visiting specialists, Dr. Shagha DeNoble and Dr. Peter DeNoble, to provide consultations, treatment, and health education. The initiative, the organization noted, demonstrated “what is possible when young people’s education meets purpose.”
Students played an active role throughout the exercise, checking vital signs, assisting in consultations, translating across languages, and helping ensure patients felt heard and cared for. “We are not only educating girls; we are raising leaders who understand that their knowledge must be used in service to humanity,” the organization stated.
The naming of the clinic also holds personal significance for Starfish International’s co-founder, Aunty Yassin, who reflected on Papa Sana Jatta’s mentorship within her family and his influence on the youth of Lamin. The organization further noted that the dedication honours Uncle Sana Sarr and Aunty Mariam, founding supporters whose generosity including the donation of land for the clinic made the project possible.
Starfish International emphasized that health has always been a core pillar of its work. Over the past 17 years, the organization has pursued a holistic model linking education, health, and agriculture, grounded in the belief that “a child cannot learn when they are sick and cannot thrive when they are hungry.” The clinic, it said, represents a continuation of that mission.
The ceremony brought together community leaders, religious figures, and institutional partners. Dr. Jorjoh Ndure Tambedou, Executive Director of the THET Fund in The Gambia, commended the initiative, reminding attendees that “development is a collective responsibility.”
Starfish International also expressed gratitude to its longstanding volunteer supporters, Gambian medical professionals, and alumni serving in the health sector. Special recognition was given to Ms. Awa Ceesay, former Health Programme Coordinator, who will serve as the clinic’s matron, and Dr. Martinho Sanyang, who will oversee its management.
In a statement, the organization described the Sana JattaKendeya Starfish Clinic as “not just a building, but a living symbol of care, dignity, and community.” As the facility prepares to open, Starfish International reaffirmed its mission to nurture young leaders committed to serving with empathy and purpose.
