Africa-Press – Gambia. Dr. Momodou Lamin Samateh, the Minister of Health has emphasized that reducing maternal deaths is a top priority for the Ministry of Health.
He was responding to a question raised by Hon.Fatou Cham, the National Assembly Member for Sanimentereng Constituency who had asked maternal mortality statistics during question and answer session of the parliament.
“From January to September 2025, the ministry recorded 58 maternal deaths out of 51,850 live births. This translates to 112 deaths per 100,000 live births, down from 289 per 100,000 previously,” he said.
Dr. Samateh notes that the main causes of maternal mortality are hemorrhage and late antenatal bookings.
The minister adds that his ministry is taking steps to reduce maternal deaths, including mentoring health workers to improve antenatal care, reviving primary health care services, and implementing a national health road map.
During the session, Bundungka Kunda lawmaker Sulayman Jammeh asked whether the ministry planned to provide functional X-ray machines and other essential laboratory equipment at Ndemban Hospital, to improve service delivery and reduce the need for patients to seek costly private laboratory services.
Minister Samateh said the Ndemban Clinic, under the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, already has a functional digital mobile X-ray machine.
“We have received four new digital X-ray machines funded by the African Development Bank through the West African Health Organization. One will be donated to Ndemban Clinic to increase its capacity,” he said, adding that the hospital laboratory was operational and performs routine tests.
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