President Adama Barrow on Saturday formally inaugurated the National Emergency Treatment Center and Biomedical Engineering Hospital in Farato describing the facility as a milestone in The Gambia’s bid to modernise healthcare and access to specialised medical services.
The new health complex also comprises the National Reference Laboratory, Ministry of Health Training and Conference Center, National Diagnostic and Imaging Center and the National Biomedical Engineering Unit. The new complex is expected to improve emergency care, diagnostic services, laboratory capacity and biomedical engineering services in the country.
President Barrow, in his remarks at the commissioning ceremony, said the project was a major step towards improving health delivery and ensuring better health outcomes for Gambians.
“These facilities represent a giant leap and a clear demonstration of our unshakeable commitment to the health and well-being of every Gambian and resident of The Gambia,” he said. “With this monumental accomplishment, we have fulfilled a major promise and brought back hope and confidence in our health care system.”
“The investment is part of the president’s broader development program that seeks to build a resilient country through sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” he said. “A modern healthcare system is critical to the country’s long-term development,” he added.
“The National Emergency Treatment Center will greatly improve the Gambia’s capacity to respond to medical emergencies, such as traumatic injuries, disease outbreaks, pandemics and other critical conditions requiring specialised care.”
“Modern healthcare depends heavily on timely and accurate diagnostics,” President Barrow said, commending the National Reference Laboratory for its work and noting that prompt and accurate diagnosis is the cornerstone of contemporary healthcare. “This lab will strengthen disease management, improve timely detection of medical cases, support advanced laboratory investigations, and enhance our ability to respond effectively to emerging health threats.”
He reiterated his government’s pledge to boost the country’s health infrastructure, improve access to specialised health services, ensure the availability of essential medicines, invest in digital health technologies, improve the health workforce and reduce the number of patients seeking treatment abroad.
He also thanked the Ministry of Health, contractors, consultants and other stakeholders for completing the project, saying that the new facility was made possible by their commitment.
He also thanked the World Bank for its continued financial and technical support to the health sector of The Gambia.
President Barrow said the success of the facility would ultimately depend on the quality of services provided and urged the health professionals who will work at the center to deliver patient-centered care and to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, compassion and integrity.
