By Arret Jatta
Medi Tech Trust (MTT), a UK-based registered organisation dedicated to providing quality and affordable health care services, on Wednesdaydonated five ventilators to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH).
Abdoulie Samateh, representative from MediTech Trust thanked the Minister of Health, Dr.Ahmadou Samateh for being an active supporter of the organisation since 2014, when the hospital became the first African hospital to be supported by the organisation.
“Following a visit by the charity’s Co-Chairman, Mr. Graham Watson; a consultant on urology from the UK, it was decided to help The Gambia whenever possible. During the following five years, many visits were made by UK surgeons to provide training for the hospital staff and to carry out urgent urological procedures,” he recalled.
He also recalled that in 2016, a 20-foot container loaded with tens of thousands of medical items, surgical equipment and consumables was donated to the hospital by the MTT.
“Today (2024) ten years from our initial visit, even though the charity now supports hospitals in fifteen African countries, Banjul still holds a very special place. That is why when the opportunity arose to buy these brand-new ventilators, the EFSTH was given the first opportunity to receive them,” he said.
He expressed the hope that the donatedventilators would be beneficial to people’srecovery process from chest infection, complications and other breathing difficulties.
The Chief Medical Director of EFSTH, Dr.Mustapha Bittaye, praised MTT for their intervention in supporting the healthcare system since its formation.
“This is the most recent donation and it is usually something that we need and that’s very useful.Today, we are receiving five ventilators. We have already earmarked three for the ICU. The other two… We are looking at their different needs but we have to prioritize where to place them,” he highlighted.
Dr. Bittaye said there was an urgent need for paramedics at the hospital, who would help themtrain their people on how the machines work.