Gambia’s Health Minister
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Gambia’s Health Ministry has disclosed plans to start kidney transplanting and open-heart surgery for patients rather than making referrals overseas.
The country’s health minister, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh made the disclosure as part of his ministry plans to bring in more specialists in the health system.
“The important aspects we want to institute in the clinical areas are the kidney transplanting and open-heart surgery, which we are currently working on with some partners; so that we can start it in the Gambia in a few months to come,” the health minister said.
He said there are many patients with kidney and heart problems who need a referral saying; ‘it is unfortunate we are unable to do those things’ in The Gambia.
“So, that’s why as a ministry, we are working hard to make sure that we have these things in our country. So that the patients will not have a lot of difficulties in terms of treatments,” Dr. Samateh said.
The Health Minister made the remarks recently while briefing the National Assembly select committee on health about the activities of his ministry.
In the Gambia, overseas treatments are recommended for patients with such conditions due to the lack of such services in the country’s health system.