Gambia’s Health System Near Collapse Amid Pandemic
The Gambia has seen over a 70% rise in coronavirus cases last week, and its health sector is crumbling under the weight of the deadly virus.
The total number of confirmed cases in the country as of Aug. 7 stood at 1,235, with 23 deaths and 221 recoveries, according to the latest Health Ministry data released on Sunday. The Gambia’s reporting of cases is two days behind due to lack of capacity to deal with the surge.
The situation is “alarming” in the small West African country of around 2.4 million people, according to Modou Touray, communications director of the Gambia Red Cross Society, as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise.
In the past week, Touray said the Red Cross buried 42 people, 17 of which were confirmed COVID-19 deaths, and a large number of “high-probability cases.” The Red Cross helps families ensure the safe burial of those suspected of dying from coronavirus since some families could not wait for their tests to be completed.
On Sunday, The Gambia reported 145 new cases, the highest recorded in a single day.
A leading child and maternal care hospital in Bundung, Bundung Maternity and Child Health Hospital, shut down on Friday to be fumigated. The hospital’s chief executive officer Kebba Manneh told Anadolu Agency they are being forced to scale down operations due to the rising number of infections among their staff.
Around 40 of their staff and patients also tested positive Thursday.
“Most of the people infected are the trained staff and our doctors,” Manneh said.
The infection rate at the hospital increased significantly, according to the Health Ministry report. At least 40 reported in biggest one-day jump were health workers from mainly Bundung Maternity and Child Health Hospital.
“We will not close down, but we will definitely scale down operations … We do not have the manpower to deal with all the numbers that come to the hospital,” he said.
At the Bundung hospital, they are “prepared for the worst,” Manneh said. But they are not the only hospital affected.
The Gambia’s Director of Health Services Mustapha Bittaye confirmed to Anadolu Agency that infection among health care workers is increasing.
“About 20 of our members have been affected by the virus. A number of them have recovered and are still in self-isolation,” said Musa Marenah, president of the Gambia Association of Resident Doctors (GARD).
The GARD members account for over 90% of the doctors providing care at COVID-19 treatment centers across the country.
By Aug. 9, the number of infected doctors rose to 32, GARD said on its Facebook handle.
The situation at the country’s only teaching hospital in Banjul is not any better. Kebba Sanneh, spokesperson for Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), said they have seen a “steady increase” among their staff infected.
“We are seeing a steady increase in the number of our staff with coronavirus. That is a concern for us, and we believe it should be a national concern. It might limit our ability and capacity to handle the situation,” said Sanneh.