By Lamin Kujabi
The Director General of West African Health Organisation (WAHO), Dr. Melchoir Athanase J.C. Aissi has recently been in the country to strengthen the existing collaboration between WAHO, as the regional health institution, and The Gambia, as member state.
Last week, Dr. Melchoir Athanase J.C. Aissi led a delegation to State House, where he had a meeting with His Excellency President Adama Barrow.
The WAHO DG congratulated His President Barrow for the ‘tremendous improvement’ and achievement in the health sector, which he observed “is already positively impacting the health indicators of the people of The Gambia”.
He went on: “The Gambia made a lot of progress in the health sector and we commit ourselves to continue to support the country to have one of the best health systems in West Africa”.
Dr Aissi expressed appreciation for the partnership that exists between the Ministry of Health and WAHO, and highlighted the support the organisation has been rendering to The Gambia; from capacity building, provision of equipment, to infrastructural development.
Health Minister Ahmed Lamin Samateh, who led the delegation to State House, affirmed that WAHO, the health wing of ECOWAS based in Burkina Faso, has been working with The Gambia for many years, supporting the country in the areas of surveillance, capacity building, and strengthening of health system by providing life-saving medical and laboratory equipment.
He said the Africa Development Bank, through WAHO, is supporting the surveillance and the fiber health system surgery.
The minister made reference to the President’s vision of 1500-bed hospital in Farato village and the setting up of a National Ambulance Centre, which projects he informed are progressing, describing it as an immense step in the health sector.
He also mentioned the construction of a modern theatre for kidney transplanting and heart surgery to be constructed in Farato village.
