The
Government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Health has inaugurated two
border health posts at Amdallai and Kerr Ali border post in North Bank Region
on 4 and 5 August and 2016.
The
government has also upgraded the Essau Major Health Centre to a District
Hospital, which will be taking in patients that will have been transferred to
Banjul from the region, except the most complicated ones.
The
new development drive is aimed at giving universal health access or coverage to
every Gambian.
The
occasion was graced by cabinet ministers and government officials, including
the APRC National Mobilizer.
The
project is supported by the Gambia government in collaboration with the people
of Japan through the Japanese Ebola Project under the coordination of the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Office. It seeks to enhance
Preparedness and Response to Public Health Emergencies.
Addressing
the gathering at the upgraded health facility in Essau on August 4, Hon. Fatou
Lamin-Faye, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, deputizing for President
Yahya Jammeh, said that access to universal health coverage is the primary goal
of the Gambia government and the 22nd July Revolution
She
pointed out that her government will continue to increase access to health
services by expanding and upgrading health facilities in the country.
According
to her, the newly inaugurated health facility will reduce the burden on the
beneficiary community of people travelling long distances to look for tertiary
health care services including Emergency Obstetric Care, access to high
capacity diagnostic service, such as x-ray facilities, 24-hour accident and
emergency services, Neonatal Intensive Care, Paediatric, postnatal and pharmacy
service among others.
She
said the health post will significantly cut down the number of referral cases
from Essau to Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH).
She
calls on the beneficiary communities to take good care of the facilities as it
is theirs, saying in the event of any disease in the community they could be
the first to suffer from it.
She
also calls on them to be regularly vigilant to report any suspected cases to
the health post, in order to protect and control any incidence of disease.
Dr
Omar Sey, in his remarks, said that access to universal health coverage is the
primary goal of the government and his ministry as enshrined in the National
Health Policy 2012-2020.
He
said the health facilities expansion project was initiated by the Government of
The Gambia to improve access and quality of service for the population by
expanding and upgrading some health facilities in strategic locations in the
country and building new ones.
Alhagie
Queen Jammeh, Governor of North Bank Region (NBR), said the initiative is a
clear manifestation of the Gambia government’s efforts at taking health care
service to the doorstep of all Gambians, adding that the hospital would go a
long way in alleviating referrals from Essau to Banjul and Farafenni.
Amdallai
and Kerr Ali Health Post
Hon.
Fatou Lamin-Faye, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, stated that
“having a facility of this will help the country’s efforts in the detection and
reporting of diseases of public health importance which is the ultimate goal of
the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare under the Government of The Gambia”.
According
to her, the Ebola crisis in the sub-region was a wake-up call for the region
thus it has resulted in the strengthening of disease surveillance through the
construction of points of entries at the official border points.
Papa
Sam, desk officer of Amdallai POE, in his remarks, said: “This new facility
will help the country in its continued fight towards detecting and reporting of
diseases of public health importance.”
The
Alkalo of Kerr Ali, Alieu Bittaye, highlighted the importance of the facility,
saying “it cannot be overemphasised”.
“Amdallai
is an entry point in the country and this new facility will help to prevent
people coming into the county with any form of diseases,” he said.
