Barrow lays  all-inclusive  health facility  foundation stone

The contract is awarded to an Indian building company and construction would begin in January, 2022, according to official schedule. It expected to last one year four months. The mega state of the art medical complex is to be of standard and it is the first phase of a teaching hospital that would be able to concurrently accommodate up to 1500 patients.  

It is is estimated at a sum of US$ 22.8 million, the bulk of which was provided by the World Bank. The government of the Gambia’s contribution into the mega project is estimated at around US$2 million.

Place where the center is to be built was a cultivation site used by people around there, especially women for subsistence farming purposes, and thus, the need for them to be compensated for the lands snatched from them for a public project. Official information confirmed the disbursement of over 700, 000 to 16 farmers who had farms there.

Addressing the gathering yesterday, Mr. Barrow said: “It is essential for us to have a National Emergency Treatment Centre that can effectively respond to emerging pandemics, such as COVID-19, which continues to put a big strain on all healthcare systems in the world. The situation makes it necessary for every country to have a high-level infectious disease management centre.”

“As a matter of fact, health facilities often struggle to provide the rapid emergency care needed to manage epidemic outbreaks of contagious diseases, no wonder COVID-19 has claimed over a million lives. The reality is that there is limited capacity worldwide to manage the situation.”

“To address such challenges, we are here today for the construction of a high-quality Treatment Centre with up-to-date equipment to effectively manage patients requiring special attention. I believe strongly that the new centre will serve this purpose efficiently when completed.”

“I must use this opportunity, therefore, to call on the private sector and other partners to participate actively in our health care delivery system so that, together, we can stem the wave of suffering linked to ill health.”

“The health facility would have Centre intensive care unit with 20 beds, National Observation and Treatment center with 84 beds, National Public Health Laboratories and training center, National Blood Transfusion Service center, a well-equipped Conference center, a Diagnostic Imaging center for CT Scan, MRI, Mammogram, X-Ray center and Ultrasound all to be manned by well-trained Medical Experts,” a statement released earlier by the Ministry of Health has asserted

The statement continued that “Upon completion, this magnificent modern edifice will serve as a one stop shop for future Public Health Emergencies and will comprise a National Emergency Treatment Centre intensive care unit with 20 beds, National Observation and Treatment center with 84 beds, National Public Health Laboratories and training center, National Blood Transfusion Service center, a well-equipped Conference center, a Diagnostic Imaging center for CT Scan, MRI, Mammogram, X-Ray center and Ultrasound, all to be manned by well-trained Medical Experts.”