The visit was to see firsthand some of the achievements made in their intervention areas in the country in the last three years. Also, the investment in oxygen is part of the Global Fund foresight in strengthening of health system of countries as part of pandemic preparedness.
The visiting team was received on arrival by Dr. Masirending Njie, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the facility, who later led the delegation on a conducted tour of various wards within the facility.
It would be recalled that the need for an oxygen plant was a request made by the country to the Global Fund during the height of the past covid-19 to help strengthen the country’s rapid response mechanism in tackling this deadly pandemic. This request was approved by the Global Fund which resulted in the installation of standard oxygen plants at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital and Bansang General Hospital in CRR.
Speaking to journalists at the site, Dr. Masirending Njie, Chief Executive Officer, Bansang General Hospital, described the oxygen plant at the health facility as “laudable and timely.”
Dr. Njie recalled that all would attest to the fact that during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a high need for oxygen in view of the arising problems and mortalities.
“Since its inception, we have produced about 721 cylinders and we have been supplying other hospitals all over the country. Since then, the production of over 500 cylinders were supplied to various facilities and Bansang General Hospital has already consumed more 100 cylinders since inception.”
The operation, he said, started sometime in October and up-to-date they have produced over 721 cylinders as of May 31st.
Dr. Momodou T. Nyassi, acting director of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, underscored the importance of the facility to health and ensuring the wellbeing of the populace.
He recalled the challenges the country faced during the height of the pandemic, noting that The Gambia suffered a great deal in terms of getting oxygen even within the country.
“We have even tried several attempts to get oxygen from Senegal, and because of Covid-19 difficulty at that time, Senegal was even unwilling to help as they also faced their own difficulties.”
This, he added, was the reason why they engaged Global Fund to help the country with oxygen plants.
“As a fund holder like Global Fund, you cannot spend money without going to see whether the resources have been achieved.”
That, he added, is the main reason why the Global Fund team travelled all the way to the site in Bansang to see how the investment made in the country is bearing result.
Dr. Nyassi expressed optimism that the new oxygen plants up and running will go a long way in supplying rural population.
“Global Fund has been a key partner; their main purpose is to fight Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV. You cannot manage these three diseases if you don’t spend in the health sector.”
He revealed that they are also into surveillance and lab strengthening, saying most of their lab equipment are all funded by the Global Fund.
“HIV, TB and Malaria cases are all funded and all the drugs and lab equipment are procured by the Global Fund.”
He spoke about other interventions like human resource and capacity building, recalling that they trained a number of the country’s health care workers few years ago.
Adda Faye, Chief Finance Officer, the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, explained that they are not only on a partnership visit to launch their brand, but also to see the investment they have made in the last three years.
“We are here today at Bansang General Hospital to appreciate the facility, but also to see one of our flagship investments- the oxygen plants.”
She recalled that The Gambia was the first country they made an approval for oxygen investment, saying when one mentions Global Fund, what comes to mind is their firm stance in fighting HIV, TB and Malaria.
“During the covid pandemic, we were able to mobilise about US$5B to mitigate the impact of covid on HIV, TB and Malaria. And oxygen was one of the high priority interventions not just for HIV, TB and Malaria patients, but for the strengthening of health system of countries as part of pandemic preparedness.”
She spoke highly of the oxygen plants in the country, saying the plants in The Gambia are the first plants to be delivered in any country.
“I have seen progress and it’s a very highly motivated and dedicated human resource team. However, when you come to this facility; you come to the country, thinking that you have delivered a lot; and then today I go back knowing that the job is far from over. The needs that we see at Bansang Hospital means that while we have to celebrate the great progress we have made in the last decade or two, the job is not finished and that we should continue to invest in our health facilities. As I keep saying investing in health is investing in the people and when you invest in people you achieve economic growth.”
Deborah Asante Luiser, Global Fund portfolio manager for Gambia, said she was happy to be at Bansang Hospital with her senior management team, expressing delight that the oxygen plant at the site is the one currently supplying oxygen throughout the country.
The Geneva-based officials from the Global Fund arrived in the country last Wednesday ahead of the grand launch of its GC7 round, a grant which was launched by President Barrow at State House on Friday.
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