Reveals Dr. Samateh
By: Momodou Justice Darboe
The health minister Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh has revealed that President Joe Biden’s Malaria Initiative has selected The Gambia as a beneficiary of a $4M annual healthcare support package.
Dr. Samateh disclosed that the first $4M will be disbursed in January of next year.
He pointed out that the fund will be utilized to bolster primary healthcare in The Gambia.
“I would like to inform you that because of the good governance that the President [Barrow] has nurtured and continues to promote, The Gambia was selected among 30 countries across the world to benefit from a $4M support from the Biden’s Malaria Initiative,” Dr. Samateh said at President Barrow’s Wellingarabameeting this week.
He explained that from next year and any other year to come, the money will be pumped into the health sector to provide primary healthcare for more than 2900 settlements in the country.
“We discussed with them ways and means of empowering communities in primary healthcare because upwards of 2900 settlements in The Gambia are primary healthcare villages. We’ve deployed a community health nurse in each of these villages. I’ve discussed with them [Biden’s Malaria Initiative] to see how every settlement can have a resident community health worker. The community health worker will help those with Malaria and women in labor,” he told the meeting.
‘Exaggerated Reports of Medicines Shortages’
The health minister said reports of medicines shortages in the country were exaggerated.
“All the medicines consumed in this country are imported. When they[suppliers] say the stock will be available within two or three months, it will be delayed. As I speak, there are containers of medicines at the ports and they will be cleared soon. The President himself advised the finance minister to augment the budgetary allocation for the health sector for 2024. He gave this advice in my presence. He told the finance minister that health is his priority and he doesn’t want to see any shortage of medicines. So, in a few months to come, medicine will never be a problem in the country,” the health minister said. He added: “The President has acknowledged that before anything meaningful can be achieved in agriculture and education, people must be healthy. We brought you community ambulances and we will increase the numbers. The President doesn’t want anyone to suffer, especially women in labor.”
Cleanliness of Healthcare Installations
Dr. Samateh exhorted health staff and communities to help in the cleanliness of health centers and hospitals.
He hinted that he takes the bullet for uncared-for toilets at health installations.
“I’ve realized that even when the toilets at healthcare delivery centers are dirty, they will superimpose my picture on them and post it on Facebook. The minister’s role is not to clean the toilet but if you look at it the other way round, we can say it’s his job to ensure tasks are performed. We’ve emphasized that the cleaner, director, minister, and health center staff must do their job. Those in the catchment areas and the VDCs should also help,” the health minister stressed.