By Buba Gagigo
As part of its commitment to corporate social responsibility, Trust Bank has generously donated dialysis equipment worth D300,000 to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul. The presentation ceremony, held on Tuesday, highlights the bank’s dedication to addressing critical healthcare needs in The Gambia.
EFSTH, the nation’s largest hospital, plays a vital role in providing essential care to patients battling kidney disease. In The Gambia, as in many Sub-Saharan African countries, managing kidney-related illnesses poses significant challenges due to limited resources and an ever-growing demand for treatment. The hospital’s dialysis unit serves as a lifeline for those affected, offering life-saving treatments that instill hope in patients and their families.
During the handover ceremony, Trust Bank’s Deputy Managing Director, Omar Mboob, expressed the bank’s commitment to supporting the healthcare sector, emphasizing that kidney disease treatment is a burden for many. He explained that the donation was intended to ease this burden and improve the quality of care for patients.
“Dialysis is a critical medical procedure for those with kidney failure, and the cost of this treatment is a significant burden for many Gambians at Trust Bank, we are deeply moved by the reality that so many of our fellow citizens are suffering due to the lack of access to these essential supplies. It is a situation we are determined to help address. In recognition of this need and as part of our ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility, Trust Bank is proud to donate dialysis supplies worth D300,000 to the hospital management today, our aim is to give back in a structured and sustainable manner that ensures the greatest positive impact On the beneficiaries,” Mboob said.
Dr. Ismaila S. Sima, Head of the Dialysis Unit at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, acknowledged the timeliness of Trust Bank’s donation, which he described as critical in addressing the urgent needs of the unit.
“I would like to take this opportunity once more to thank Trust, Bank, for their laudable effort in making this very generous and timely donation to our unit. As presently, our unit is having rigorous improvement programs. Because presently we have installed a new ultra modern water plant for the unit, and also the government is about to install, about 40 new hemodialysis machines. So Trust Bank coming to compliment government efforts in this direction is very welcome,” he said.
Dr. Bittaye, Deputy Head of the Internal Medicine Department, also shared his appreciation for the contribution, noting that maintaining a dialysis unit is an expensive undertaking. He emphasized that the donation would significantly bolster the unit’s ability to provide proper care to all patients in need.
“This thing that you have given us, the dialysis unit, would definitely go a long way in actually helping these patients, because each dialysis unit cost a lot of money, because I was in Ghana. You know, if you don’t have money in Ghana, it’s difficult for you to have dialysis, but here it’s free of charge. So just imagine free of charge, and Doctor Sima is telling you at least $100 per session. So now you’re supposed to do three sessions every week. Who amongst the Gambians can actually afford this? It’s almost about $300 per week, which is a lot of money. This is why supporting this unit for me as part of the internal medicine department is very timely,” he said.
The EFSTH Dialysis Unit, like other health facilities in the country, grapples with limited resources and insufficient equipment, hindering its ability to meet the rising demand for kidney disease treatment. Trust Bank’s contribution will play a pivotal role in alleviating some of these challenges, improving the quality of care for patients in need. This act of corporate goodwill underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing critical health issues and demonstrates Trust Bank’s unwavering commitment to supporting the health and well-being of Gambians.