The National Association of Gambian Nurses and
Midwives (NAGaNM) on Saturday held its 5th annual general meeting at the Gambia
Pastoral Institute along Kairaba Avenue.
Speaking on the occasion, Lamin Marong, president of the association, said it was established to strive for excellence in healthcare delivery in The Gambia through improvement of standards in nursing and midwifery education, practices, research and management.
The association aims to represent the interest of the nursing and midwifery profession and professionals at the national and international levels at all times.
Mr Marong said: “NAGaNM envisions a highly educated, very competent and a well-regulated nurse and midwife who has liberty, necessary resources and the conducive environment necessary for practice and existence.”
He said their executive took over 14 months ago, to continue the tremendous achievements registered by their predecessors.
Since then, Mr Marong said, they have been striving to increase, retain and encourage active participation of members in the association in conformity with the standards and codes of conducts of the profession.
The NAGaNM president said they have been trying to increase awareness and visibility about the association, and what it stands for.
He said: “We have also been trying to positively impact on the daily livelihood of our membership, protect their rights and support them.
“So that the nurse at Koina, Foday Kunda , Diabugu and Sami Karantaba copes with the struggles of being far and hard to reach; so that the nurse anesthetist in Basse is adequately remunerated; so that the nurse overseeing Ginak crosses with a feeling of worthwhile; so that the midwife in Farafenniis applaudedfor the contribution in reducing maternal mortality.”
He said their executive have also been trying to lay a path to ensure that the ophthalmic nurse in Soma is not left out in what the association does.
A path to create an environment where the midwife in Brikama is not only in the newspaper for one unfortunate incidence but also for the more than 500 successful deliveries conducted each month, he further explained.
Mr Marong said NAGaNM will continue to support its membership “at times of need in any way” possible.
“We will also continue to aggressively raise funds for the association and keenly focus on developing our land and making it a home for nurses,” he said.
NAGaNM president thanked the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, UNFPA, and the Gambia Family Planning Association for the continued support given to the association.
