Africa-Press – Gambia. Dr. Mustapha Bittaye, Chief Medical Director of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), has revealed significant strides in specialized healthcare services and medical infrastructure at the hospital. Speaking in an interview with Peter Gomez, Dr. Bittaye highlighted key improvements that reflect broader progress in The Gambia’s healthcare sector.
“In general, the health sector is really doing a lot and has improved a lot,” Dr. Bittaye said. “but most of the time when people come to the hospital, the structures, dignity, and all that is very important but a lot more is going on than that, the functionality of the hospital has changed, before what you could do in this country now has been expanded a lot more,” he said.
He noted that many complex medical cases that were previously referred abroad—especially to Dakar—are now being managed locally by resident specialists. A notable example is pediatric surgery, where EFSTH now has dedicated pediatric surgeons performing procedures that once required referrals.
“Most of our cases of pediatrics surgery used to be transferred to Dakar, now we have resident pediatric surgeons doing all the cases,” He Said.
Dr. Bittaye also mentioned that the hospital can now handle complex cases more efficiently, significantly reducing treatment times. He highlighted the orthopedics department, which is the busiest in the hospital and previously required patients to seek care elsewhere. These patients, who might have spent up to six months in the hospital in the past, can now often be discharged within five days to two weeks at most. Additionally, he noted that the hospital has increased its team of medical specialists.
“Like what is happening now, you have more than 30 professors or so, right now. If you need a pediatric neurologist you can have it In The Gambia, if you need an adult neurologist it is around,” He Said.
Despite these advancements, Dr. Bittaye acknowledged the need to enhance patient comfort and hospital aesthetics to match the standard of care being provided. “So many people don’t benefit from these because now the comfort maybe compared to private and others it, not us so that is why making sure that the structure is good.,” He said.
Renovations are underway at the hospital’s private wards, with support from the Central Bank of The Gambia. Additionally, the police are assisting with service provision during this transitional period.
In a major development, EFSTH has begun producing its own medical-grade oxygen—an essential resource that was previously imported.
“Before every oxygen, we had to buy they were not medical grade oxygen but now we are producing medical grade at different sites. If everything works as it is supposed to be 100% we will be selling oxygen to other places as well and it will be bringing us resources,” He Said.
Further investments include the establishment of a state-of-the-art urology theatre, donated by the First Lady, as well as advancements in radiology services.
“We have very nice digital X-rays around, we need to have a similar one also in Demban but in Banjul, it is working well,” He Said.
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