PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Turkey to refurbish Gambia’s main referral hospital
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) – Turkey will refurbish the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul, Gambia’s main referral hospital.
According to Amie Bojang Cissoho, the Director of Press and Head of Public Relations at the Office of the President in Banjul, said on Tuesday that there is a visiting Turkish delegation currently in the Gambia to help the country.
The Chairperson of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Mr Serdar Cam and delegation met President Adama Barrow on Monday in Banjul.
Mr Cam informed President Barrow that their mission to the Gambia was to assess the situation for the renovation of the EFSTH, expansion of the National Assembly building complex and exploration of other possible areas of cooperation.
The Gambian leader said that the refurbishment of the EFSTH, the main referral hospital, emphasised the importance his government attached to the development of the health sector.
He said receiving the TIKA team, demonstrated the seriousness with which President Erdogan of Turkey attached to their discussions during Barrow’s recent visit to Turkey.
Meanwhile, this development comes in the wake of a strike action by Gambian doctors who have complained, among other things, about the deplorable conditions of Gsmbian hospitals.
“Our maternal mortality rate is very high and we are ranked bottom 8 in Africa. Women are dying when they should have been taking care of their families,” Dr Nenneh Bah, the Vice President of the striking Gambia Resident Doctors cried.
She blamed the high death rate on lack of equipment to facilitate their work, adding: “Our hands are tied because we cannot talk or claim to have what we need to do our work.”
“Even if we have the expertise and there are shortages of resources, then, we end up referring most of our patients abroad. This is avoidable,” she added.
-0- PANA MLJ/MA 20March2018
According to Amie Bojang Cissoho, the Director of Press and Head of Public Relations at the Office of the President in Banjul, said on Tuesday that there is a visiting Turkish delegation currently in the Gambia to help the country.
The Chairperson of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Mr Serdar Cam and delegation met President Adama Barrow on Monday in Banjul.
Mr Cam informed President Barrow that their mission to the Gambia was to assess the situation for the renovation of the EFSTH, expansion of the National Assembly building complex and exploration of other possible areas of cooperation.
The Gambian leader said that the refurbishment of the EFSTH, the main referral hospital, emphasised the importance his government attached to the development of the health sector.
He said receiving the TIKA team, demonstrated the seriousness with which President Erdogan of Turkey attached to their discussions during Barrow’s recent visit to Turkey.
Meanwhile, this development comes in the wake of a strike action by Gambian doctors who have complained, among other things, about the deplorable conditions of Gsmbian hospitals.
“Our maternal mortality rate is very high and we are ranked bottom 8 in Africa. Women are dying when they should have been taking care of their families,” Dr Nenneh Bah, the Vice President of the striking Gambia Resident Doctors cried.
She blamed the high death rate on lack of equipment to facilitate their work, adding: “Our hands are tied because we cannot talk or claim to have what we need to do our work.”
“Even if we have the expertise and there are shortages of resources, then, we end up referring most of our patients abroad. This is avoidable,” she added.
-0- PANA MLJ/MA 20March2018
