By Yusupha Jobe
Health officials including Red Cross volunteers stationed at Kartong border post have complained of lack of medical equipment like screening facility for coronavirus tests.
The complaint comes as majority leader of National Assembly Hon Kebba K. Barrow distributed hand washing materials to various health centres and public places within Kombo South district by.
Kartong, is a commercial hub that bordered Gambia with always experiences constant crossing of people country to another.
Amadou Jatta the Gambia National Army medical personnel told The Voice Kartong only came to have improvised sanitary material for hand washing after he reported to his command of putting mechanism to allow people to wash their hands before crossing into the two countries.
“We are able to have improvised hand washing materials at the border point in Kartong after reporting the matter to my command who later told me to survey main borders entry points of the village and put some sanitary hand washing materials. We have many entry points here at Kartong use by people coming from Senegal to the Gambia,” he said.
He added: “So knowing the porous nature of our borders it is important we provide necessary screening equipment in order to screen and know their health status regarding the virus.”
According to him, Kartong has always been neglected by the authorities saying people always cross border in and out of the Gambia.
“Right now, we will be here from 7: AM in the morning to late 7: PM in the evening all this is because of the number of people crossing the border.”
“So, it is important we have necessary equipment such as gloves and nose mask to also protect ourselves from the possible infection of corona virus. And I can tell none of the government health worker who is currently sent to assist us on the ground,” he said.
