The leader of Gambia Moral Congress, Ahmed Mai Fatty, has blamed the government for the rise in maternal deaths.

Fatty, an ex-advisor to President Adama  Barrow, made the comment following the tragic death of an expectant mother Aji Sukai Jaw while giving birth. 

The 28-year-old from Brikama died in hospital when electricity went off during an emergency operation. 

“Giving birth to another life has become a recurring death sentence in The Gambia. It is very common and the authorities remain in reckless denial,” Mr Fatty said. 

“I don’t see the wisdom of spending hundreds of millions of Dalasis to purchase ambulances, specifically for improving electoral prospects, while patients are dying in hospitals. Patients are dying at home. Patients are dying in transit in ambulances. Patients are dying at health clinics,” he added.

According to him, “most of these deaths are easily preventable. Something is fundamentally wrong. It has to do with misprioritization.

“When the interests of the “self” supersedes the interests of the Nation, every project, every policy, every decision, every action is measured against how it would primarily serve self-perpetuating rule; every benefit to the public becomes merely incidental and not intended.

“This battle is about redeeming our Sovereignty from foreign control. This battle is about protecting our Liberty. This is a battle against historical revisionism. 

“This battle is about saving lives. This battle is about our economy and resources. This battle is about the soul of The Gambia. 

“We all have the opportunity to decide if we desire this debacle to proceed or to terminate. That choice and decision is yours on December 4th, 2021,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba