The presentation ceremony, held at the hospital’s conference centre, brought together hospital management, laboratory staff and representatives of Salam Financial Services.
Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of Kanifing General Hospital, Basiru Drammeh, hailed Salam Financial Services, while describing the donation as a major boost to healthcare delivery and an important investment in patient care.
Drammeh explained that the hospital had initially sought assistance to improve its laboratory department but was pleasantly surprised when Salam Financial Services opted to provide brand-new equipment instead of second-hand computers that hospital officials had originally considered.
“What we thought we needed and what they thought we deserved were different,” he said. “They assessed our needs and realised that the laboratory required more than computers. They also identified the need for printers and other ICT equipment that will improve our operations.”
He noted that the laboratory plays a critical role in diagnosing illnesses and guiding treatment decisions, adding that the donated equipment will help healthcare workers provide faster and more accurate services.
According to him, the new ICT infrastructure will enable the hospital to move from manual record-keeping to electronic data management, making it easier to retrieve patient records, improve reporting systems and support medical and legal documentation when required.
“The volume of data generated in the laboratory is enormous. These resources will allow us to store and access information efficiently while freeing up funds that can now be redirected towards medicines, reagents and other essential healthcare needs,” he said.
Head of Operations at Salam Financial Services, Modou Lamin Jobe, said the institution’s partnership with Kanifing General Hospital dates back to 2016 and has remained focused on supporting the laboratory department.
“We adopted the laboratory as our own baby,” Jobe said. “Over the years we have provided furniture, air conditioners and other support. When the request for computers came, our management decided that investing in quality, brand-new equipment would deliver greater value and long-term benefits.”
He added that Salam’s technical team worked closely with the hospital to identify the most suitable equipment and pledged continued collaboration, including technical support where necessary.
Chairman of the Board of Salam Financial Services, Alimameh Taal, underscored the importance of innovation and digitalisation in strengthening healthcare systems.
Taal said healthcare is everyone’s responsibility and called for greater investment from both public and private stakeholders to improve healthcare infrastructure nationwide.
He urged institutions to embrace digital solutions, reduce waste and modernise record management systems, noting that reliable data is essential for effective healthcare planning and service delivery.
Meanwhile, Head of the Laboratory Department, Kalifa Sanneh, expressed gratitude for the donation, describing it as a timely intervention that will improve documentation, reporting and data management.
“Every patient who receives timely results and every clinician who makes informed decisions will benefit from this support,” Sanneh said. “This is not merely equipment; it is an investment in healthcare delivery, innovation and the people we serve.”
He assured donors that the equipment would be put to good use and called the gesture a testament to the power of partnerships in strengthening The Gambia’s health sector.
