By Kumba Leigh
The Sarap Gambia NGO, representing the Canary Islands Government of Spain, has recently donated medical equipment worth €1 million, to The Gambia’s Ministry of Health. The donation aims to boost and enhance healthcare delivery across the country.
At the official handing-over ceremony held at the Ministry of Health in Banjul, the Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, expressed gratitude for the generous contribution. He described the donated items as highly significant, particularly equipment like ultrasound machines used for diagnostics in antenatal care. He emphasised that such tools are critical for early diagnosis in women and children, which would be challenging without this kind of support.
“The Government of The Gambia has already been procuring a wide range of medical supplies, and this donation comes at a moment our hospitals are in great need,” Dr. Samateh noted.
Esther Mouzou, the Health Minister of the Canary Islands, highlighted the importance of ongoing collaboration between the health ministries of The Gambia and Spain. She reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Gambian people, particularly in the healthcare sector.
Sonna Mariama, President of Sarap Gambia, said the equipment will be distributed among nine clinics operated by the Fire Services, Bundung Hospital, Kanifing General Hospital, and the New Yundum Maternity Ward.
She said the donation was made possible through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Health of the Canary Islands, four hospitals in the Canary Islands, The Gambia Government, and support from The Gambia’s Ministries of Health, Interior and The Gambia Fire Service.
The donated items include: 75 hospital beds; 1,000 health uniforms, 8 cut-beds with mattresses and 4 without, 2 incubator machine beds and 2 additional incubators, 2 delivery beds, 2 autoclave machines, 3 scanning machines, 1 operation microscope machine, 1 colposcopy machine, 2 operation lamps, 5 stretcher beds, 30 ECG papers, 2 film boxes (230V/50Hz), 1 suction machine UPS machines, 1 adult and 1 baby weighing scale, 4 medication trolleys with drawers, 4 medicine trolleys, 3 cable accessory boxes, 7 glass boxes, 7 flush doors with windows, wheelchairs, hospital birth tables, and other essential supplies.
