President of the Republic of The Gambia
President Adama Barrow has said that maternal and Child mortality has declined in the country, over the last 5 years.
“Over the last five years, my government successfully expanded and developed health care services through improved infrastructure, personnel, and supplies, on a reformed health financing landscape. Key health indicators have improved notably; for example, maternal and child mortality has declined, Skilled birth attendance, post-natal care and nutrition have improved considerably.” President Barrow told the NAMs.
The Gambian President added that there is a significant improvement in the Health Sector under his government.
President Barrow said The Gambia now offers post-graduate training at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH); adding that the UTG offers health-related programmes at bachelor’s level.
Barrow applauded his government’s introduction of Eighty community ambulances in areas without health facilities.
“A major achievement of my government is the introduction of the Gambia National Health Insurance Scheme. The act to establish the scheme became effective in November 2021 to particularly benefit the poor and vulnerable, while serving as a social safety net. We will see how it evolves as the new National Health Policy 2021- 2030 and the National Health Strategic Plan 2021- 2025 guide the sector’s activities,” the Gambian President said.
President Barrow said there is a wide range of construction works in progress, to expand services throughout the country, and cited for example the construction of the National emergency treatment centre and National Blood Transfusion in Farato.
The President made the remarks in his State of the Nation Address 2022 today at the National Assembly in Banjul.
Section 77 (1) of the 1997 Constitution requires the President to attend a sitting of the National Assembly and address a session on the condition of the State, the policies of the Government, and the administration of the State, at least once in a year.
Today’s event marked the 6th State of Nation Address (SoNA) by President Adama Barrow since his ascension to power in 2017, after defeating then President Yahya A.J.J Jammeh in the 1st December 2016 presidential election.