By Fatou Krubally
The Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) is under pressure following the capsizing of a migrant boat off Jinack Island on the night of December 31, which has left 12 people dead and 43 hospitalized, authorities confirmed.
EFSTH Registrar Dr. Musa Cham told a joint press conference on Monday that the hospital was alerted around 11 p.m. and initially believed the vessel was carrying 69 passengers. “Once the alert came in, staff returned from their homes and we activated our emergency response,” he said.
Of the 43 patients treated, 22 were male and 21 female, including two pregnant women and a two-year-old child. Twenty-three patients are Gambian, while the others come from Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.
Seven patients were in critical condition, with two admitted to the ICU and placed on oxygen. Others suffered pulmonary oedema, aspiration pneumonitis, burns, hyperthermia, and trauma-related injuries. All critical patients, including the child and pregnant women, are now stable.
As of Monday, 23 patients remain hospitalized, while others have been discharged to the care of immigration authorities. Mental health specialists have been deployed to counsel patients experiencing severe psychological trauma.
Meanwhile, EFSTH has received 12 bodies, including 10 males and two females, among them a five-year-old child. Five bodies have been identified, with three released to families; several remain unidentified.
Dr. Cham said the emergency exposed serious challenges, including limited medication, space shortages due to renovations, and lack of mattresses, clothing, food, and water. Support has since come from Pharmacare, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), the Red Cross, and the International Organization for Migration.
Red Cross Secretary General Abdoulie Faye said recovery operations continue along the coastline and in Senegal, where additional bodies have been reported. The Navy confirmed full deployment of personnel and vessels but cited fuel shortages as a key challenge.
Authorities said rescue and recovery operations are ongoing as families await news of missing relatives.
