Freedom Newspaper (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Wise Man
11 March 2008
A major drug shortage has hit the Brikama Health Center. Brikama which have a population of over 50,000 people, is currently without basic drugs. Dozens of patients were issued with prescription forms, but there was no drug at the Hospital's main pharmacy.
The patients were told to go and buy the prescribed drugs at local pharmacies. Exorbitant drug fees, has made life miserable for the sick in The Gambia. Many patients say they cannot afford the high cost of drugs in private pharmacies.
Our main man in Brikama, Wise Man visited the Brkama Health Center, where he was appalled by the deplorable environmental sanitation at the clinic. Flies and ants could be seen scattered in the wards. Patients were also overcrowded at the hospital.
During the time of my visit, I met a Cuban Doctor, who was on ward rounds. The doctor could be seen attending to the patients. These patients are between life and death.
Fatou Sarr, a patient said many patients died in Brikama due to lack of medical attention. She says patients are being neglected by health workers.
" It's better to give birth at home because doctors and nurses here don't help us. They abandoned us for hours, without any form of monitoring system. It's very disgusting to be admitted here. I want to go home." said Fatou Sarr.
Binta Bah a housewife said doctors kept on giving prescription without drugs. " My husband is a farmer and he cannot afford the cost of drugs. Drugs are too expensive here." she said.
While at the hospital's maternity wing, I was amazed by the poor sanitation there. The place was just too messy. It stinks. Nurses could be seen charting while patients kept crying. These patients were brought here for delivery, but the nurses who were supposed to look out for them could be seen socializing.
Speaking to the Freedom Newspaper, Lamin Sanyang, the Nurse in charge of the Brikama Health Centre confirmed about the drug shortage. Sanyang said the relevant authorities were informed about the drug shortage, but so far there is no positive response emanating from them. " I told them since last month about the drug shortage, but we are yet to receive any new consignment. I kept reminding them about the drug problem, but they are yet to respond." Sanyang told our correspondent Wise Man.
When reached for comments, an official of the Health Ministry said there is too much bureaucratic red tape at their ministry. " It's not only Brikama, which is faced by drug shortage. There are other health facilities faced with the same problem. The Minister has been touring Hospitals, but he is yet to do his work as expected. Many patients are dying in this country due to lack of drugs. Most of the drugs in our stores found its way into private pharmacies. There is corruption everywhere here. As long as pharmacists are stealing, there is bound to be drug shortage. I think the President needs to look into this problem." said the official.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 Freedom Newspaper. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
