By: Fatou Krubally
In a major boost to pediatric healthcare, the Cornerstone Group has officially handed over the newly renovated Pediatric Surgical Wing at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul.
The project, completed with an unwavering commitment to improving medical care for children, marks a significant milestone in the country’s health sector.
Speaking at the handover ceremony on Monday, Oley Faal, Executive Director of the Cornerstone Foundation, emphasized the importance of local healthcare facilities, stressing that even those with financial means seek treatment at EFSTH before considering options abroad. “If any of us here, our kids are sick, before we even think of going to Senegal, we would think of coming to RVTH first,” she said, underlining the hospital’s crucial role in stabilizing patients before further medical interventions.
She added that the initiative was driven by the foundation’s vision to give back to communities and ensure that children receive the best possible medical care in an environment that fosters healing, comfort, and hope. The project was executed without cost considerations, as the foundation believed in the impact it would have on saving lives.
Mr. Alagie Sanyang, Founder and CEO of the Cornerstone Group, highlighted the organization’s broader interventions in the hospital, including the installation of a 24/7 power supply in the operating theatre after learning that power outages had previously led to patient deaths. “Not a single penny of this project has gone to waste,” he assured, announcing that another major intervention was already in progress.
Sanyang also revealed that the group recently secured a container of medical supplies worth over 2 million dollars (approximately 140 million dalasis) to support the hospital. “If the company in the Gambia couldn’t do it, I would use my company in the U.S. to make it happen,” he stated, reinforcing his commitment to improving healthcare in The Gambia.
Health Minister Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh commended the initiative, acknowledging the critical role of private sector contributions in national development. “No nation can develop without the participation of its people. You could have said this is the government’s responsibility, but instead, you chose to step up,” he remarked, urging more Gambians to support the country’s healthcare system.
The renovated Pediatric Surgical Wing stands as a testament to the power of community-driven development. As the government continues its efforts to strengthen the health sector, partnerships like these prove that collective action can drive meaningful change and save lives.
