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Gov’t urged to restore subvention to health councils

Aug 18, 2023, 12:36 PM | Article By: Sulayman Waan

Mafugi Bojang, the registrar for Nurses and Midwives Council (NMC), has called on the Gambia government through the Ministry of Health to “urgently restore” the annual subvention to all Health Councils to ensure effective health services delivery.

Speaking during the inauguration of Nurses and Midwives Council at the Ministry of Health on Friday, Bojang said: “There is a need for urgent restoration of the annual subvention to Health Councils.”

The health official said strengthening the NMC and other Health Professional Regulatory Councils is the cornerstone in reducing the burden of the head of health institutions' frequent visits to the office of the Health Minister and his senior management team.

“Without the basics like subventions and mobility, regular supportive supervisions (health facilities and training institutions) are almost impossible,” he argued.

The health councils include the Nurses and Midwives Council, Medical Council, Dental Council, Pharmaceutical Council and Mental Health Council.

The Nurse and Midwives Council (NMC) is a body responsible to advise the minister on matters concerning the profession of nursing and midwifery; to regulate the profession and practice of nursing and midwifery; to maintain and improve standards of training and professional conduct for nurses and midwives and to prescribe and regulate courses of instruction and training in the education establishments.

It could be recalled that over the past years there have been public outcry over poor healthcare system in the country, particularly in the public health facilities. Several women have reportedly died during child birth in public health facilities.

However, Mr. Bojang emphasised the need for the regulatory councils to be subvented to ensure effective and efficient service delivery in the health sector.