A
team of medical doctors from China on Monday began a two-day free medical
treatment to over four hundred patients that are suffering from different
ailments in the rural Gambia.
The
free medical treatment which was held at the Bansang Hospital in the Central
River Region also attracted patients from Upper River Region and some part of
the southern Casamace, Senegal. Officials said the event would also strengthen
the already existing bilateral relationship that exists between the countries.
Bansang
Hospital is one of the busiest hospitals in the rural Gambia and the country at
large. Hospital officials said in 2018 alone, the hospital’s out patients
department received more than 74, 000 patients, hence the support of the China
Medical Team would go a long way toward addressing the demands of inhabitants
within the area.
Aba
Sheriff Sanyang, the regional governor of CRR said it’s very gratifying to have
a team of Chinese medical doctors in the hospital taking into account the
number of patients that visits the hospital daily.
“Coming
out to the rural people and help them in improving their health status is a
very gigantic step in the development of this country because the rural people
are mostly the famers among others. Therefore, if they are healthy you are
given them more strength to be able to produce more and support the urban
area.”
The
hospital, he added, is serving a lot of people within the regions and some
neighbouring countries and that it’s the first point of call in the rural
Gambia.
“Any
accident from here to West Coast Region they will run to Bansang Hospital and
beyond Bansang which is Basse will also come to the hospital. Women that have
some major complications will also first rush to the hospital, hence there’s
need to have permanent Chinese doctors in the hospital.”
Governor
Sanyang, further described the bilateral relationship between the two countries
as cordial as always, further expressing hope that it will continue.
The
head of the medical team, Dr. Liang said the purpose of their visit is to
conduct free medical treatment to communities of the area.
The
medical team, he explained, comprises of 10 doctors and that they are divided
into various groups ranging from Obstetrics, paediatrics, and group of
traditional medicine among host of others. This, he added, would enable them to
attend to most of the patients visiting the hospital during the medical
treatment.
“Our
primary objectives are to improve the health care of the local people with a
view to improving the already existing cordial relationship between the two
countries. I think we can do something to improve the relationship between the
two countries so that the future of both countries will be nice.”
The
Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Baba Jeng, described the move as
another milestone in the history of the hospital, saying the hospital is known
to be the Chinese hospital.
“The
Chinese were in the hospital about 15 years ago. And for them to come back to
the hospital and strengthen that relationship, I think it is something that is
commendable and it’s important to the hospital’s management and thousands of
patients that are visiting the hospital on a daily basis.”
He
revealed that the team will also be donating some medical equipment on Tuesday
to the hospital. “We want the existing relationship between the hospital and
China Medical Team to grow further for the fact that the hospital is
strategically located and it’s covering
over 600, 000 inhabitants within and outside the country.”
He
said they sometimes see people that come all the way from Guinea Conakry,
Guinea Bissau and neighbouring Senegal.
“The
hospital management really appreciated the two days free medical treatment.
Therefore, I’m appealing to your government to help us with permanent Chinese
doctors in the hospital,” he said.
CEO
Jeng disclosed that the hospital is lacking so many specialists in difference
areas.
“If the hospital has some Chinese doctors it
would go a long toward addressing the much-needed medical services in the
region.”
Dr.
Peter Tong recalled that the relationship between the two countries dates back
some decades ago, adding that they are the third recent medical team that are
in the country working towards improving the country’s health sector.
Bruma
Badgie, the hospital’s administrator also spoke at length on the importance of
the free medical treatment.
“Patients
will now have an opportunity to be seen by doctors who are specialists. I’m
optimistic that some of the issues that is affecting them will be address.”
Fanta
Touray from Ndorna Village in Upper Fulladou, thanked the visiting medical team
for the support and urged them to continue such humanitarian gesture.
