Banjul, 6 March 2014 -- The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Hon. Omar Sey on 26 February 2014, received an assortment of medical equipment and supplies from the WHO Representative, Dr. Charles Sagoe-Moses. The items, meant for Edward FrancisSmall Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), are worth over 2 million Dalasis.

Receiving the items at the grounds of the Hosipital in Ban-jul, the Hon Minister lauded the excellent working relations between his Ministry and the WHO, He described WHO as a very key partner that is always responsive to the needs of his Ministry. That “Whenever we knock on the doors of the WHO, the response is immediate” Honorable Sey remarked. He thanked WHO for its continuing support and for the cor-dial working relationship he had established with the WHO Representative.

On his part, Dr. Charles Sago-Moses expressed his delight to present the medicalequipment and supplies that World Health Organisation (WHO) purchased for the Government of The Gambia (GotG). He highlighted that as part of Government efforts to address key health system challenges faced by the EFSTH and provide appropriate health care services, an Emer-gency Project Document was prepared outlining urgent medical supplies and equipment needed by the Hospital in July 2013.

Dr. Sagoe-Moses informed the gathering that in response to this need, WHO provided financial support for the Government of The Gambia to purchase the needed equipment, which included patient monitors for the Intensive care unit, pulse oximeters and oxygen concentrators.

“We are gathered today to handover the purchased items to the management of the EFSTH. It is envisaged that the support will contribute towards the significant improve-ment of maternal and child health indicators, and provide an added impetus to our joint efforts to achieve the millen-nium development goals”, Dr Sagoe-Moses noted.

He reassured the Hon. Minister that WHO will continue to be a key partner of the Government of the Gambia, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in moving the health development agenda forward at the country, region-al and global levels. He also thanked and commended The Gambia for its hard work.

He informed the gathering that The Gambia has been des-ignated to serve on the Executive Board of the WHO that will meet during the World Health Assembly in May 2014. He stated that The Gambia has also been nominated to serve as a member of the Programme Subcommittee of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa to examine issues to be discussed by the 64th Session of the Regional Commit-tee.

WHO will continue to support the Government of the Gambia through the Country Cooperation Strategy, and the implementation of the agreed Programme Budget for the biennium 2014-2015. WHO will be supporting the finaliza-tion of the National Health Sector Strategic Plan and the coordination framework for its implementation; as well as the preparation of the second National Health Accounts.

He noted that these activities among others are geared towards ensuring the Gambia achieves Universal Health Coverage. As a result, health system strengthening will continue to be a key as-pect of the technical and financial support that will be provided by WHO, in the areas of essential drugs and medicines, health technologies, and human resources for health.

Other speakers including the Chief pharmacist, The Chief Medi-cal Director of EFSTH made similar remarks and the ceremony was chaired by the Permanent Secretary (MoH), Dr. Makie Taal.

In attendance were administrative and health personnel of EFSTH, WHO staff and the media.

For more details please contact:

Mr. Momodou Gassama, Health Promotion Officer—9331961 Ext. 30805, Office: 00220 4462283/84/86

Mr. George Williams—Health Information Assistant—9900248 Ext.30808

The WHO Gambia Office, New Kotu Layout P.M.B 170, Banjul, The GAMBIA