Dr. Sam Artley
To begin with for those young folks within our midst .RVH was the original name of what is now called Edward Francis Small Hospital..this very same hospital has been in place since colonial time , obviously with the occasional face lift here and there, however the fundamental basic structure remains the same.
My questions I will put to most Gambians,especially enlightened Gambians are :-
1. ARE WE TRULY READY TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO MODERNIZE OUR MEDICAL & HOSPITAL NEEDS ?
2. IS OUR MEDIUM TERM TO LONG RANG INTEREST A CONTINUATION OF THE STATUS QUO ?
From what I have seen on the ground at the RVH ,my conclusion is Gambia as a nation as of now our mindset is not yet ready to make the necessary ‘leap to get us there’ As a practicing healthcare professional myself, with three previous generation of consecutive healthcare professionals within my family. I have seen , observed and participated in all stages through the gradual deterioration of standard and visual aesthetic of our cardinal referring hospital ( RVH ).
These days our doctors are striking, For many our initial reflex is to invoke the ” THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH ” that says in perhaps by some stroke of luck social pressure will eventually shame all protesting doctors back into substandard submission..
Not that simple folks. nothing in life that is good comes easy, so I say strike on doctors. , ” squeaky wheel gets the oil ”
HERE LISTED ARE A FEW BASIC , NO COTS BUT YET EFFECTIVE MINOR CORRECTIONS TO MAKE AT ( EFS -HOSPITAL) AS A TOKEN TO SHOW NATIONAL WILLINGNESS TO IMPLEMENT THE NECESSARY CHANGES.
1. Is it necessary to have a mosque on the hospital premise, if so is it necessary that such a mosque should at will be able to blast their call to prayers .
2.Is it necessary that nurses and supporting hospital staff should be allowed to take prayer break while on duty on the national clock.. thus in effect one is getting paid for praying instead of working.
3 .professional appearance from the gate man to the head nurse , appearance does matter .sloopy uniforms, not so smart attitude with zero tolarance to any diviation from an agreed upon uniform . A hospital is not the place to exerciser and demonstrate ones religious beliefs.
4.Who had the smart idea to change the nurses and matrons uniform from what was a know successful uniform model to what it is today. sad to say hotel staffs from any of the Gambian hotels are more neatly dressed then our very own professionals nurses at the hospitals.. we would all be better served should the hospitals institute an immediate return to the uniform models of the 80s.
5. Not to minimize the efforts of head nurses breed and groomed locally, however at this very stage of low esteem , low standard , this is the moment for a Gambian head nurse with most recent long term international nursing standards experience , instituted as the national head nurse. The occupational one year or a few months special course studies in the west is grossly inadequate to elevate the standards .
On the final analysis, If health care is so important , and we all agree it is one of the most important national institution, then why on earth are we not putting our national monies where our national mouths are. . why not demolish this old RVH and begin an on site fast pace replacement hospital to be completed within a 18 months.