President Adama Barrow has unveiled the National Emergency Treatment Centre in Farato, hailing it as one of the most significant investments in The Gambia’s health sector in recent years.

The state-of-the-art facility brings together the National Reference Laboratory, the National Diagnostic and Imaging Centre, the Ministry of Health Training and Conference Centre, and the National Biomedical Engineering Unit, all aimed at improving emergency care and specialised health services.

Commissioning the complex on Saturday, President Barrow said the facility represents a major milestone in his government’s efforts to modernise the country’s healthcare system.

“These facilities constitute a giant leap forward and reflect our unwavering resolve to improve the health and well-being of every Gambian and resident of The Gambia,” he said.

The president said the National Emergency Treatment Centre would strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to traumatic injuries, disease outbreaks, epidemics and other critical medical conditions requiring specialised care.

“The National Emergency Treatment Centre will significantly strengthen our emergency preparedness and response capacity. It will enhance our ability to manage traumatic cases, pandemic outbreaks, epidemics and other critical medical conditions requiring rapid specialised interventions,” Mr Barrow said.

He said the National Reference Laboratory would improve disease detection and surveillance, while the National Diagnostic and Imaging Centre would expand access to advanced medical tests that many Gambians previously sought abroad.

The president added that the Ministry of Health Training and Conference Centre would help build a new generation of skilled healthcare professionals, while the Biomedical Engineering Unit would maintain sophisticated medical equipment locally.

Mr Barrow said the commissioning forms part of his government’s wider health sector transformation agenda, which includes plans to expand the Farato Health Complex into a 1,500-bed national teaching hospital.

“Future generations of Gambian healthcare personnel will train and practise in world-class facilities right here at home,” he said.

He thanked the Ministry of Health, the World Bank and other development partners for supporting the project before officially declaring the National Emergency Treatment Centre open.

By Adama Makasuba