By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
Barely one week after it has been accused of mismanaging Covid-19 relief funds bankrolled by Gambian government to support victims of the pandemic, the Ministry of Health has again come into the limelight by allegedly owing thirteen million six hundred and ten thousand dalasis (D13, 610, 000.00) to Banjul Oxygen Company.
A source familiar with contract agreement between Ministry of Health and Banjul Oxygen Company signed on 22nd July, 2021, said the local energy company is no more supplying the Ministry of Health oxygen cylinders for Covid-19 Patients at the Ndemban Clinic now Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Bakau since November, 2021.
He revealed that the situation comes as a result of the Ministry of Health non-compliance with payments due to Banjul Oxygen Company amounting to D13, 610, 000.00, adding that the local energy company has supplied six thousand three hundred and fourteen (6314) oxygen cylinders to Ndemban Clinic, a government designated Covid-19 treatment centre.
“The failure of the Ministry of Health to settle Banjul Oxygen Company is not helping at all for both the hospital and for the patients. I can tell you that currently most escorts coming with their patients to the hospital are asked to go out to buy oxygen,” our source disclosed.
He added: “The current situation at the hospital could have been avoided supposed Ministry of Health honors its agreement with Banjul Oxygen Company. They have been running up and down for their money even before the former head of treatment centre in-charge, Dr Abubacarr Jagne, left for Ghana but Ministry of Health declined to make any payment to the effect.”
He appealed to the authorities at both Ndemban Clinic and the Ministry of Health to speedily settle the issue, adding that failure to solve the situation can lead to adverse effects on the part of patients who cannot afford to buy oxygen outside.
The Voice Newspaper reached out to both officials at the Ndemban Clinic, Ministry of Health and Banjul Oxygen Company to shed light on the situation. Dr. Ya Fatou Jobe, Acting In-Charge at the Ndemban Clinic denies claims that the Covid-19 Treatment Center is lacking oxygen for its teeming number of Covid-19 patients, while declining to comment on matters of the Ministry of Health for non-payment of over D13million to Banjul Oxygen Company.
“It’s not true that we are lacking oxygen at the hospital, though I’m not at work but I can tell you that we have oxygen cylinders available for our patients. On the issue of the payment I have no idea, maybe Ministry of Health can help you answer that,” Dr. Ya Fatou Jobe, told our reporter via telephone.
When contacted to get the side of the Ministry of Health, Pa Modou Faal, Communication Officer, said he could not speak on the matter, noting that both Director of Health Services and his assistance are out of the country.
Seedy Grant, Head of Administration, Banjul Oxygen Company confirmed that his company has stopped supplying Ndemban Clinic with oxygen cylinders since November, 2021, adding that the decision to stop supplying the Ministry of Health with oxygen cylinders was due to pending payments that they have been following to no avail. “We have supplied the Ministry of Health with six thousand three hundred and fourteen (6314) oxygen cylinders from July to November 2021, and up to now, not a single butut have been paid for the supply. We have tried all efforts to get some payment for the supply but is to no avail and as a company it doesn’t augur well to our business making suppliers without getting any payment in return.”
But he disclosed that Banjul Oxygen Company is ready to continue the supply anytime its payments are done by the Ministry of Health.
