JAMMEH PROVIDES AMBULANCES FOR HEALTH CENTRES.
(Culled from the Gambia Daily of yesterday, 7th December 2002)
(Story by Momodou Trawally)
President Yahya Jammeh on Friday handed over six new ambulances to the
Secretary of State for Health, Dr. Yankuba Gassama, for health centres in
the provinces.
The ambulances were provided for the health centres in Diabugu, Brikamaba,
Bureng, Yorobawol and the fara Feni APRC General Hospital. A min-van was
also given for the transportation of staff of the Jammeh Foundation for
Peace Hospital in Bundung.
President Jammeh described his gesture as part of his New Year gift to the
people of The Gambia. He recalled that there were many requests for
ambulances during his presidential campaigns in October.
He was confident that the old ambulances in all the health centres will be
replaced be new ones, across the country, so that we start the year 2002
with new ambulances in our health centres. President Jammeh noted that there
is an arrangement with Riders for Health, a British NGO, to manage and
monitor the use of the ambulances and other resources within the health
sector. This, he said, could not have come at a better time, noting even if
ambulances are provided there have been complaints about a lack of fuel.
The new arrangement, he said, would help the government manage resources to
serve the Gambian people in health delivery. President Jammeh said he was
encouraged with results so far, at the Jammeh Foundation for Peace Hospital
in Bundung, adding that it is most popular health centre in the country.
He warned that any ambulance driver or government vehicle caught smuggling
drugs will be severely dealt with. He also emphasized all ambulances driven
at night should stop at any military or police check point.
Dr. Gassama thanked president Jammeh for his efforts in the health sector,
and promised that the ambulances will be put to good use.
He said the Department of State for Health have just signed an MOU with
Riders for Health who will manage all ambulances, motor bicycles, vehicles
and generators of the sector.
Dr. Gassama further reported that staff at the Bundung Hospital have been
receiving more than 600 patients a day, and have thus far carried out 46
operations. Between 10 and 15 women deliver there weekly, thus reducing the
pressure on the Faji Kunda and Sere Kunda health centres.
Dr. Gassama also reveled that he will soon visit Bwiam Hospital, with his
permanent secretary, and work out how to make it operational soon.
The Soma major health centre, he said, is functional and very soon
construction work on the Sere Kunda Hospital will commence as they signing
the contract this week. He also announced that The RvH is being converted
university teaching hospital.
Dr. Gassama reported that in 1993, The Gambia’s infant mortality rate was 85
per 1,000 people but today is 61 per 1,000. The mortality rate for children
under five years in 1993 was 10.5 per 1,000 but is now 6 per 1,000. Life
expectancy in the country has increased from 53 to 60 years now, the SOS for
health revealed. These statistics, he said, would be improved upon with the
provision of the ambulances, adding that they could contribute to actually
reducing mortality and morbidity of people in the country, thus improving
national health indicators.
=====================================End===========================
Any typos and other errors deeply regretted and are most likely mine.
Have a good day, Gassa.
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