The items, meant for Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), Faji Kunda, Essau and Baja Kunda Health Centres, were presented at a brief presentation held the EFSTH grounds in Banjul.
The donation, according to officials, would significantly help in enhancing timely referrals of patients, while lessening the burden on patients, who sometimes resort to seeking medical care at private hospitals.
These ambulances, which worth million of dollars, are fully equipped with latest gadgets and services required of referral ambulances.
Welcoming the gathering, Dr Mustapha Bittaye, Chief Medical Director at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), who was full of joy, expressed gratitude to the Spaniards for the laudable gesture and the challenges they faced driving the three ambulances all the way from Spain to The Gambia.
He commended their Gambian counterpart - Help Them Gambia Organisation led by Pa Sainey Badjie alias ‘Obama’, who he said, has been in touch with their Spanish counterparts in facilitating the whole initiative.
"I’ve been in touch with Pa Sainey Badjie well before the arrival of this items."
Dr Bittaye expressed optimism that the gesture would not only help strengthen the relationship between the two institutions, but would go a long in serving the people of The Gambia.
Pa Sainey Badjie, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Help Them Gambia Organisation, while thanking the Gambian Embassy in Spain for their immense contribution, acknowledged that the Embassy in Senegal also played a tremendous role in the smooth arrival of the Spanish delegation.
He expressed gratitude to one Buba Jammeh, a Gambian resident in Spain, for his support, revealing that his dedication and commitment has earned the trust and confidence of the Spanish government and people generally.
In this vein, he commended officials of the Spanish NGO for their generosity, indicating that some of the members of the NGO are serving police officers.
"Others have their companies who worked tirelessly to assemble and buy other valuable medical equipment for use in Gambian hospitals."
He maintained that the donated items, some of which are in high demand in the country, would not only reduce turn-around time in accessing quality health care services, but would also help in reducing referrals to private hospitals due to lack of equipment.
He also talked about his NGO, which he said, was established to help local communities and complement government’s efforts in supporting the key areas of development.
Badjie thus thanked his Spanish counterparts for their generosity, acknowledging that their move demonstrates their love for the country, for which Gambians remain grateful.
For his part, Francis Reales, assistant president Superant Frontera in Spain, on behalf of the delegation, commended Gambians for the warm hospitality accorded them since arrival in the country.
He said this was second visit to the country, pointing out that indeed the people of the Gambia deserve such support.
The Spanish philanthropist while acknowledging the remarkable contribution of all their partners who supported the initiative, equally thanked them for the foresight.
In his keynote address, Dr Ahmed Lamin Samateh, minister of Health, while welcoming the Spaniards in the country, commended them for the sacrifice of leaving their families behind to undertake this daunting challenge to get to The Gambia.
Minister Samateh equally thanked Buba Jammeh, a Gambian resident in Spain for facilitating the whole initiative.
"We are delighted to stand in front of you today. This is another phenomenal day in the history health care service delivery in The Gambia. We keep on saying for any meaningful socio-economic heath is pivotal."
Dr Samateh indicated for people to be able to undertake any agricultural activities, schools and even construction, they have to be healthy, acknowledging that health service provision is essential for any nation.
He also spoke about government recognition of that fact and that presentation of these ambulances and essential medical supplies is a testament of that fact.
"The Gambian leader’s vision is to have a health care service where we have modern, adequate health infrastructure that is accessible to the people of the country wherever they may be."
To that end, Minister Samateh underscored the importance of the donated items in the country’s quest to ensure quality health delivery, pointing out that health facility without the much-needed equipment is just like an empty hotel.
At the end of the presentation, EFSTH CMD, Head of Spanish delegation and Gambian officials and CEO of Help Them Gambia Organisation, a local charity, signed a joint agreement formalising their resolve to work in partnership based on trust, understanding and mutual cooperation.
