By Yunus S Saliu
Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) on Friday, 9th June 2023 updated the general public about its partnership with the Swedish African Neurosurgery Collaboration (SANC) on the free operation for patients in need of surgical conditions, also, of the brain and spine.
The maiden operation of SANC which kicked start a few days ago is currently ongoing at the Ndemban Clinic, Bakau, and will last for two weeks.
Having SANC in The Gambia is been described as a great honor by the African head of the Swedish African Neurosurgery, Professor Uche.
On behalf of SANC, Prof Uche thanked all the team members and resident doctors in the Gambia saying SANC is in the country to bring the goodies SANC has been distributing to other African nations to The Gambia in terms of neurosurgical care.
He gave the background of the Collaboration which he said started in 2017 and was chattered in 2018 and just a space of six years “It has made a remarkable endowment and investment in terms of providing comprehensive skills and infrastructural upgrade. And also training across all facets of neurosurgical care including training of residents, young fellows and of course the neurosurgical nursing, training which is so deep and unique.”
According to him what is unique about SANC is that it carries the whole team by bringing every detail of the neurosurgical care into the planning, in the team they have neurosurgical nurses, and neurosurgeons from different major hospitals in Sweden, Nigeria, Senegal, Finland and even The Gambia, “this is the biggest Mission that SANC has had so far in term of the personnel. And in a space of four days, we have done ten major cases.”
It is an achievement which he said means that The Gambia has announced its entry into the arena of international neurosurgery, and “after now all impossible cases before, with Dr. John and team and support from SANC, can be done here because the skills and infrastructure are now here in the Gambia without further traveling abroad to seek for care. This is what SANC has done in Nigeria, Liberia, and Ghana now in The Gambia.”
Dr. Jimmy, Head of the Mission expressed gratitude to everyone that has participated to make it happen saying “We are very grateful and of course to the Ministry of Health and happy to make it through by bringing together lots of this medical personnel.”
So far, he said they have been able to help people with different diseases in the spine, brain tumors, and so on and this couldn’t have been done without the great team, therefore “I wish to acknowledge the effort of everyone because you truly are excellent people, more so the Gambia team. You are very skilled, and dedicated and we are happy working with you.”
The President of SANC described the team as a fantastic one and dilated on how they come to the Gambia emanated while thanking the Gambia for their hospitality.
Dr Ammar Al Jafari, the CMD of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) thanked SANC while highlighting their achievements in a few days in the country.
He said the team has saved the patients, hospitals, and the country huge sums of money by performing some of the complex neurosurgery in the country without flying abroad any patients.
He as well extended appreciation to the Gambia hard-working team for their participation while saying now neurosurgical care is available in the country.
Dr John Jabang Jallow, a surgeon leading the Gambia team of resident doctors lauded SANC activities since they arrived in the country which includes training, donations, neurosurgical care, and so on.
The PRO of the hospital among others made comprehensive remarks about the good work of SANC at the press update.