The award ceremony, which attracted staff and a cross section of the community, also accorded officials the opportunity to highlight some of the gains made at the hospital during the year under review.
At the event, 15 fifteen staff from different units of the hospital were awarded prizes in recognition of their outstanding services rendered to the institution.
Addressing the opening, Dr. Mamadi Cham, Chief Executive Officer of BMCH, gave statistics on the services delivered at the institutions, recalling that in 2023, deaths recorded at the institution reduced from 2.1% (of 2022) to 1.4% (in 2023), while first trimester ANC registration stands at 45.2%, IPT 4th dose rose to 37.8%.
Dr. Cham also revealed that the male partner attendance during ANC also rose from 33.3% (from 2022) to 70.1% (in 2023), HIV positive among pregnant women stands at 0.7%.
He also noted that live birth rate increased to 98.5% (in 2023) from 98.6% (from 2022), pointing out that the gains made in institutional cesarean section rate, also increased from 13.2% (2022) to 16% (2023).
“The male partner presence during the delivery of spouses rose from 40% (in 2022) to 40.6% (in 2023).”
Dr. Cham reiterated that deliveries among women at the facility catchment area rose from 82.5% (2022) to 83.9% (2023), and for one calendar year and two weeks, no maternal death was recorded at the hospital.
Dr Cham also spoke about the 2023 immunization birth dose coverage is approaching universal level – OVP 91.7%, Hep. B 92.3%, BCG 76.4%.
As a government identified hospital in piloting the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), he maintained that the hospital also served as host to the annual C3G cervical and breast cancer screening camp (2022 and 2023).
The guest speaker at the occasion, Dr. Babanding Sabally, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, while congratulating the awardees and the hospital management and staff for their achievements, called on all to redouble their efforts to ensure quality heath delivery.
“As we honour our outstanding staff let’s also celebrate the collective working spirit of the BMCH staff as each person here has played a part in the success. Their achievements are not just numbers on spreadsheets or project milestones met but the foundation of the sector’s future success.”
Sulayman Jammeh, National Assembly Member for Bundungka Kunda applauded BMCH management and team, acknowledging that the day is a special day for the people of Bundung and The Gambia as a whole.
The recognition and award, he said, did not spare anyone as he put it, ‘it was opened to everyone and for all the units in the hospital.’
“One thing you all need to know is that all the staff are hardworking,” while urging residents and those outside to continue visiting the hospital to receive quality treatment without any hindrances.
Dr Fatoumatta Dibba, Fatou Secka-Jaw – Deputy CEO of BMCH, Aunty Jatta, all community members, expressed similar sentiments.
This year’s awards categories included; ‘Overall Best Staff, Midwife of The Year, Laboratory Staff of The Year, Security Guard of The Year, Orderly of the Year, Nurse Attendant of The Year, Medical Doctor of The Year, Record Clerk of The Year, Overall Best In-Charge of The Year, Most Punctual Staff, Most Organised Ward/Unit, General Nurse of The Year, Theatre of The Year, Pharmacy staff of The Year and Support Staff of The Year.’
Recipients of the award in each category received a bag of 50kg rice, one bag of potatoes, 20 gallons of cooking oil, and a certificate.
