By Kemo Kanyi
Gambia’s Health Minister, Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh has described the newly inaugurated maternity theatre at Brikamaba Major Health Centre as a game changer that can transform healthcare delivery in the Central River Region and the country as a whole.
Speaking to journalists shortly before the inauguration, Dr Samateh said the facility would provide emergency surgical services, particularly for pregnant women requiring timely interventions to save their lives and those of their babies.
“The new theatre complex that will be inaugurated in a few minutes is a game changer when it comes to healthcare service provision for this part of the country and for the entire country,” he said.
He explained that the facility would enable pregnant women requiring caesarean sections to receive the necessary care closer to their communities, reducing the need to travel long distances for emergency treatment.
The minister said access to essential health services at the community level was critical, particularly in cases where delays in surgical intervention could have serious consequences.
He also disclosed that the government planned to deploy doctors to health facilities in the provinces to enable them to put their training into practice. He said the provision of staff accommodation at the facility would help support the implementation of this plan.
On the availability of medicines, Dr Samateh said the government had secured two containers of medical supplies that would soon be distributed to health facilities across the country.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving access to healthcare for people throughout The Gambia.
The minister also highlighted the importance of specialized health personnel, saying the country was training professionals in areas including paediatric nursing, laboratory technology and science, physiotherapy and radiology to address gaps in the health sector.
Malang Ceesay, the Alkalo of Brikamaba, welcomed the inauguration, describing the facility as a significant development for the community.
He said Brikamaba had never before benefited from a facility of this nature and expressed appreciation for the government’s intervention, adding that its importance to residents could not be overstated.
The inauguration took place during President Adama Barrow’s ongoing nationwide Meet-the-People-Tour.