The Minister of Health Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh has told members of the National Assembly that Qatar Government has promised to support the construction of the proposed state-of-the-art hospital in Brikama and that negotiations are in advanced state to finalise the Memorandum of Understanding.
The minister appeared before the National Assembly on Wednesday, July 1st respond to their questions.
He revealed that the project is being supported by Qatar Development Fund through the Qatar Charity in The Gambia, whose officials he said arrived in the country to establish an office. However, he said efforts have been delayed due to COVID-19 but stressed that government is still committed to the project.
Responding to question around the delay of work at the Brikamaba Health Centre extension in the Central River Region, Dr Samateh intimated the deputies that Hamidou Jah of Jah Oil Company is the one supporting the expansion of work at the maternity ward of Brikamaba Health facility, and that the sponsor has been having logistical challenges. He assured that the ministry is continuing to engage and that if the challenges persist his ministry will immediately take over the completion process.
Asked whether the Health ministry has plans to control the medical donations that come to the country, Dr Samateh acknowledged the frequent inflow of medical donations in the country and informed that his ministry through the Medicine Control Agency (MCA) is working on how to regulate it. “This is to avoid The Gambia being used as a dumping ground”.He added that the ministry is working towards regulating private health facilities in the country.
He went to inform the Assembly that Professor Ousman Nyan has been appointed as the new Chief Medical Director of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital since June this year.
Health minister finally informed them that the Ebola centre at Giboro point of entry was connected to NAWEC’s main electricity system last month while water is provided through the borehole.
By Momodou Faal, Information Officer, Ministry of Health
