A D396,000 worth of haemodialysis consumables and spare parts were on Friday, presented to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) for the two haemodialysis machines bought by President Yahya Jammeh.

The stock included toray filtryzer, haemodialysis blood tubing set, infus haemocare A-V fistula needle set, pressure transducer projector, haemodialysis concentrates, sodium chloride injection, sigma infusion set, terumo disposable syringe, citric acid, and gallons of bleach water.

Dr Patrick Chang, Taiwan’s Ambassador to The Gambia, handed over the stocks to Dr Adama Sallah, Chairman of the RVTH Management Board, at a presentation ceremony held at the hospital grounds.

 Dr Sallah, who received the donated items, said the installation of the two state-of-the-art biomedical equipment have alleviated the burden experienced by Gambians in accessing haemodialysis services abroad, the cost of which is far beyond the means of the average Gambians.

He said the machines have brought a great advancement in administering quality medical services in cases relating to acute renal failure, among others. He said at least 25 Gambians are currently on haemodialysis treatment, saying that many more Gambians are lined-up for the services.

Dr Sallah informed the ceremony that maintaining haemodialysis machines is capital-intensive, noting that the hospital’s resources are over-stretched. He used the opportunity to call on the private sector, organisations and well- meaning Gambians to support the maintenance of the machines for the continuity of services to Gambians.

He then thanked the Taiwanese Embassy and the government of Taiwan for the consignment.

For his part, Ambassador Chang, expressed his Embassy’s commitment to ensure that the RVTH benefits from more donations. He commended President Yahya Jammeh, for the importance attaches to health as a key development priority of his government, as well as for the procurement of the two machines. He then expressed hope that the stock will be put into good use.

Dr Mariatou Jallow, Chief Medical Director of the RVTH, paid tribute to The Gambia for the attention given to the health sector. Dr Jallow disclosed that the hospital will set up a system to address the shortage.

She said Gambians would be trained as a fully qualified specialists to operate on the machines.

She then called on the international community to listen to Taiwan, saying that the Asian-Pacific Island state should be a force to be reckoned with, as it offers hope to humanity. “You have not abandoned us and we will not abandon you,” she assured the Taiwanese Ambassador.

The RVTH boss then spurred the management and staff of the country’s teaching hospital to maintain the spirit and always aspire for success.

Dr Ousman Nyan, Provost of the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, at the University of The Gambia, who elaborated on the importance of haemodialysis machines, delivered the vote of thanks.