By: Nyima Sillah
Hon Modou Lamin Bah, National Assembly member for Banjul North Constituency who doubles as the Vice Chair of the National Assembly Select Health Committee has recently urged the Ministry of Health to return children to the Pediatric ward hence the sanatorium is not hygienic for babies.
In an interview with The Voice, Hon Bah explained “I visited Sanatorium and realized that the pediatric ward has been transferred temporarily to the sanatorium. what I realized was according to the notice that was given to them was just to stay there for nothing more than three weeks which has turned to two months now.”
He stressed that his concern is that the sanatorium is next to the dumpsite and this dumpsite is always full of smoke, adding that, the people in control explained that there are some instances even the fire service has to go that area to put off the fire.
“This is not acceptable and I want to put it to the Ministry of Health to do all they could do to return the children that are currently at the sanatorium to the Pediatric Ward. They need to do something about it because it is not hygienic, and not safe for the children,” he cried out.
The Vice-Chair disclosed that about twelve children are admitted to the Sanatorium, according to those that work there, low water pressure is a challenge for the children and the dump site.
“This place is a medical treatment Centre for the children so they should be in a very hygienic environment, and not a place like such. It is not only the pollution but when it rains the water is also stagnant, it is another concern,” he said.
However, he added the children have been there for the past two months due to the temporal renovation happening at Edward Francis Small pediatric hospital children’s ward.
