By Binta Jaiteh
The government of The Gambia has announced plans to introduce a performance management system aimed at strengthening accountability and transparency in public service delivery.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Momodou Lamin Samateh, made the announcement during a Ministerial “Mansa Kunda” town hall meeting, saying the system would ensure that cases of underperformance are formally recorded and addressed.
“This will be a solution where anyone who does not perform will be reprimanded and documented in an objective way,” he said.
Dr. Samateh acknowledged that while many public servants are hardworking, shortcomings in attention to detail continue to affect service delivery. He said such challenges often place additional pressure on ministers, who are ultimately held responsible for administrative performance.
He described his role as Health Minister as demanding, noting that the ministry inherited dilapidated infrastructure and equipment.
According to him, the ministry has completed six health posts in Medina Angaleh, Jissadi, Kataba Omar, and Ballanghar, and has secured funding for eight additional facilities. He added that new hospitals have been commissioned in Brikama and Basse.
Dr. Samateh said about 13 hospitals have been renovated, including Bwiam General Hospital, which has been expanded to improve staff accommodation and clinical services at a cost of about two million dalasi.
He stressed the importance of accessible healthcare, noting that citizens should not be required to travel long distances to reach medical facilities. He added that equipping health facilities remains as important as constructing them.
The minister also highlighted ongoing investments in medical equipment and efforts to expand local medical training. He said the ministry is working with partners, including the World Bank, to bring in specialists from Ghana and Nigeria to support knowledge transfer to Gambian doctors.
He said 120 Gambian medical professionals are currently undergoing specialist training.
“We cannot depend on health services outside the country. Partners may change policies or become unavailable. That is why we are building local capacity,” he said.
Dr. Samateh added that the country’s dental school has graduated its first cohort of students, describing healthcare delivery as a multidisciplinary effort requiring various professional skills.
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