Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) over the weekend received new medical equipment worth D26 million. The items were presented by K.P.I. Health Care, a private American company through the minister of Health and Social welfare.
The items which include Samsung HM-70A Portable 4D Diagnostic Ultrasound; Philips HD-15 with 55-2 PureWave Cardinal sector and Upper GI Endoscope (Gastroscope) among others were procured by K.P.I. Company on behalf of the hospital after a rigorous bidding process.
Dr. Adama Sallah, board chairman of the hospital, said everything came following a request made to President Adama Barrow on the need to procure those much needed medical equipment to up-lift the standard of the hospital.
He said based on this request, President Barrow wasted no time and talked to the minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, leading to the allocation of D35.7 million for the procurement.
According to Dr. Sallah, the D26 million is the first consignment of the total allocation, adding they are waiting for the second consignment.
“We are very grateful to President Adama Barrow for supporting the hospital to ensure that the patients’ concerns are addressed.”
He also used the opportunity to urge the staff and management of the hospital to take great care of the items so that they can have a long life span. He also assured that the hospital management will continue striving to ensure meeting the needs and aspirations of the patients.
Health and Social Welfare Minister Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, expressed total appreciation to be associated with that kind of gesture.
He acknowledged that those items were a cause for concern for the hospital, pointing out that the situation was very hard as the hospital was lacking lots of equipment.
He lavished praise on President Barrow for his swift reaction, saying the government’s response was important and timely.
Dr. Samateh also disclosed that procuring those medical equipment was a very difficult task for the hospital, particularly in specification and identification with the supplier company.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the supplier company for the tireless efforts in ensuring that the medical items were acquired and delivered to the management of RVTH.