Presenting the items, Dr. Nathan Nsubuga Bakyaita, World Health Organisation representative, said these new ambulances are not just vehicles, they are a lifeline.
“They represent our shared obligation to ensure that every Gambian, no matter where they live, has access to timely, quality and life-saving care. This moment reminds us that health systems are stronger when they are closer to the people.”
The WHO Country rep noted that these ambulances would contribute to improving the referral system, particularly in those hard-to-reach communities where reliable means of transport can make the difference between life and death.
“Over the years, Gambia has made remarkable progress in strengthening the health system where you have invested in human resources, health infrastructure so that we can improve our ability to deliver services but also to respond to emergencies when they do occur. We are so proud as WHO for having walked that journey alongside you, also with other partners, by providing technical and operational support when needed.”
He maintained that it is in that same spirit that those two ambulances were procured by the regional office and donated to The Gambia to strengthen not only referrals, but also the country’s response to emergencies when needed.
“Not only will they enhance emergency medical services but also improve routine referral systems, maternal health and disease outbreak response capacities. Let me share some reflections about a nurse in Central River Region who sometimes faces challenges when there are critically ill patients who need to be referred to a higher level and most of the time those tend to be pregnant women and children.”
He made reference to an encounter he had with a nurse in the Central River Region during which the said worker told him, that sometimes ‘we have the skills but we lack the wills.’
“So, WHO is here to augment the skills that are available and we are adding the wills that will enable those skills to be available to the people who really need them. We are closing that gap by putting the wills in motion to save lives, strengthen trust in the health system and bring health services closer to every family.”
Receiving the items, Dr. Ahmad Lamin Samateh, minister for Health, lauded WHO for the gesture, describing the gesture as something ‘more than diamond and gold.’
He acknowledged that no meaningful development is achievable without having healthy population that is productive, that goes to the farms to do agriculture, that goes to the construction sites to construct the infrastructure, the roads, and the buildings, that goes to the offices to do what they need to do.
“If these individuals are not healthy, we cannot have any meaningful socioeconomic development. For this reason, government has stood by ensuring that the Ministry of Health gets all the support that is available to ensure that we strengthen the health sector.”
Minister Samateh noted that part of the health system strengthening includes expansion of the health infrastructure, improving access, building more health facilities across the length and breadth of the country, expanding, upgrading, and renovating the current facilities and ensuring that people get the equipment that is needed.
He reminded that when president Barrow took over in 2016, he met only about 60 ambulances nationally but today, the country can boast of up to 170 ambulances in the country.
“I think this is a very, very big plus. However, even with that number, we still need a lot more. So the donation of these ambulances by the WHO is very timely.”
He assured that the items would go a long way in filling those gaps and to ensure that the communities that do not, have access readily available ambulance services.
Minister Samateh highlighted the need for an ambulance to ferry their sick people to the hospital, especially pregnant women, describing the gesure as timely.
“When you give people what they need, the gift becomes more valid. Because these are highly needed. And as you also rightly said, we wish we get more. But this is a starting point.”
He urged them to continue to advocate for more, so that people get the services that they need.
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