By: Haddy Touray
In what could be described as a turning point in the Gambia’s journey towards creating an equibrium in the demand and supply of nurses, the Sami Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences yesterday opened its doors for first cohort of students.
The nurse training institute, located at Abuko in the Kanifing Municipality of The Gambia, was on Tuesday officially opened in a ceremony attended by high-profile guests.
The Sami Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences wasregistered in The Gambia in 2017 to support the impoverished West African country and other parts of the globe in meeting their growing demand for nurses.
With a population of around two million people, The Gambia requires huge investment in nurse education and training to be able to keep pace with the increasingdemand for nurses.
“The purpose of setting up this institute is as a result of the need for more nursing schools as the demand for nurses is growing high,” the Principal of Sami Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences, Babucarr Cham.,” pointed out as he addressed guests and students of the institute.
“There exists considerable evidence to suggest that the market for education and training services in The Gambia is set for further expansion over the next few years. This offers considerable potential both for educational institutions to bolster their incomes and for the country as a whole to enhance its earning,” he added.
He explained that the raison detre for establishing the Sami Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences is to address the need for trained and qualified nurses in The Gambia and beyond.
“The nursing training institutions offer high quality professional training. However, they have failed to maintain the constant demand of the industry, thereby exists a training gap that the private sector can fill,” said Principal Cham
“This is why Sami Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences decided to come up and fill that gap. This gives opportunity to the high number of students that were unable to be enrolled to have another chance to achieve their professional goals,” he stated.
The Sami Institute of Nursing and Health Science’s principal explained that aside the provision of quality nursing education, the institute has tailored its courses to meet national and global demand for trained nurses that will provide quality service in healthcare systemsto promote better and efficient nurse care intervention. He asserted that quality training will address the shortage of nurses, midwives and other cadres of healthcare workers in The Gambia.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KanifingGeneral Hospital , Mr. Basiru Drammeh, advised students to respect themselves, their tutors and abide by the rules and regulations of the school.
“Always take our training seriously,” he stressed.
He gave students the assurance that the entire nursing fraternity in The Gambia is here to support, sustain and encourage them.
“I am certain that the principal and his entire staff are all equally ready to give you the needed support and encouragement throughout your program,” board chair Drammeh stated.