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Current Feed ContentNew Insurance Company in town ...As life insurance services get introducedThursday, September 04, 2008 As the Gambia’s Insurance Industry continue to grow from strength to strength, couple with an increasing number of insurance service institutions in the country, another insurance company know as the Capital Express Assurance Company Gambia limited, which started operation in early August, this year, has also added its name to the long list of insurance companies. The assurance company, which is a subsidiary of the Parent Capital Express Assurance company limited in Nigeria, the recent voted fastest growing life assurance company in Nigeria, and operates in five west African countries, the institution is the first insurance company in the Gambia that is licensed to provide a life insurance service to the nation. Located at Sankung Sillah building on Kairaba Avenue, the institution is backed by a high cablire human resource base with a modern sophisticated technology, as well as the only insurance company for the first in the Gambia to include a customer service department in its operation. Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer, Mr Babukarr A Dandeh Njie, the managing director and chief executive officer of the assurance service company limited, said his company’s mission in the Gambia is to provide wealth management and risk protection services to atleast one member of every household where they are licenced to operate using the most sophisticated technology and man power. He added that his company want to decentralised quality insurance services throughout the length and breath of the country. With the products and services available, Njie, noted that his company is sure of providing a world class insurance services, that will mark a turning point in the country’s insurance industry. ‘’We have products and services such as, credit life, group life insurance, individual life insurance, motgage protection, student welfare plan, and a host of other available products and services at the company,’’ he indicated. According to him, his company comes for quality, and as such, they want to ensure that they dominate the country’s competitive insurance industry. “In fact, that is why, we have already began a three-month in house training for our staff. This is geared towards ensuring that we maintain quality because we belief that staff capacity building through training is the cornerstone of the success of any company,’’ Njie said. He spoke of his company’s resolve to contribute to the ongoing poverty alleviation process through their available products and services. Njie revealed that among their immediate plans is to establish their presence in Banjul, noting that since they began operation in August, this year, they are only continued within the kombos. He also revealed that the company will be engaging in a lot of policy service reviews in a bid to ensure standard insurance services. Cognisant of the fact that insurance service is not a priority for many people due to lack of awareness, Njie spoke of his institution’s commitment to embark on a vigorous sensitisation to the general public so as to create more awarenes about the positive impact of insurance. He argued the general public to take a second look and get insured, noting that insurance is vital and goes a long way in improving lives. Tejan Conteh, head of marketing at the company, expressed similar sentiments and added that their institution has strong background and recognition in the sub-region. Conteh reiterated the point raised by Njie that the company will embark on a sensitisation process, which he indicated as among their they marketing strategies. He concluded by assuring that the assurance company will give a new look to the current trend of insurance in the country. Author: special report by Hatab Federa Conjoined twins at RVTH
Friday, August 08, 2008 For the first time in the history of childbirth in The Gambia, one Ramatoulie Jallow, a resident of Serrekunda London Corner, on Wednesday afternoon, went under the knife in a major caesarean operation that led to the birth of conjoined female twins. The caesarean birth was reported to have been successfully conducted at the Gambia Family Planning Association (GFPA) Clinic in Kanifing by Dr Ndabo Manneh-Camara, following a thorough examination. The twins are joined at their stomachs. They were later referred to the Neonatal Unit of the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital. Dr Ndabo Manneh-Camara, a medical doctor of the GFPA Clinic, who conducted the operation, said this development was the first of its kind in the country and such a case is very rare in the world. “I have been in the field [of medicine] for 21 years, but this is the first time that I have came across such a case,’’ Dr Camara said. The insight The GFPA’s medical doctor explained that the mother of the twins - married with three children - came to her clinic at around 1:00 pm on Wednesday with labour pain. “When I checked her, I realised that her abdomen was very big and that everything was not normal. The moment I realised that she was not in active labour, I quickly suggested a scanning. The scanning report revealed a multiple pregnancy and this suggested a delivery by operation, which I had initially suggested,” Dr Manneh-Camara said, adding that “I wasted no time in going ahead with the operation”. According to Dr Manneh-Camara, during the course of the operation, she realised that the twins were joined and could not be separated. She disclosed that after the operation, she referred the twins to the RVTH Paediatric Unit for further investigations. However, Dr Manneh-Camara, who has undoubtedly earned fame for herself as the first Gambian doctor to handle such a rare and major maternity case, admitted that she was unsure of whether the twins share the same organs, but noted that their mother’s condition is normal. Asked about what is responsible for such a phenomenon, Dr Manneh-Camara attributed it to genetic factors, which occur at the early stages of pregnancy. Specialist care Noting that the operation for a possible separation of the conjoined twins is not available in the country yet, the veteran doctor called for urgent financial assistance to facilitate an overseas operation in order to save the young lives. “Their parents are not financially strong and only urgent intervention from all stakeholders can complement their efforts to separate the twins overseas,” she added. Dr Tamsir Mbowe, director of Health and Medical Services, who has visited the conjoined twins at the Neonatal Unit, said the twins have a “high chance” of survival. “The good news is that the visceral organs of the twins are not connected together according to the CT Scan conducted at the RVTH,” he added. Urgent assistance Dr Mbowe, himself a well-known gynaecologist, said two hospitals have been identified to conduct the operation in Europe at a cost of D1.6 million. He then called on the public to assist in meeting the financial cost of the special operation for the separation of the twins in Europe. Ramatoulie Jallow, the mother of the twins, who is currently admitted at the GFPA Clinic, also appealed for assistance to save the lives of her twins. Yankuba Dibba, the executive director of GFPA, stressed that the twins need urgent financial aid in a bid to also go under the knife overseas. Willing individuals, organisations and institutions, who wish to help can render assistance by contacting 991 4535/ 776 4535, or tamsirmbowe@yahoo.com. Scientific evidence Conjoined twins are extremely rare, occurring in as few as one in every 200,000 births. The twins originate from a single fertilised egg, so they are always identical and of the same sex. The developing embryo starts to split into identical twins within the first two weeks after conception. However, the process stops before it is complete, leaving a partially separated egg which develops into a conjoined foetus. The birth of two connected babies can be extremely traumatic and approximately 40-60% of these births are delivered stillborn with 35% surviving just one day. Historical records over the past 500 years detail about 600 surviving sets of conjoined twins with more than 70% of those surviving pairs resulting in female twins. Historical records The earliest known documented case of conjoined twins dates from the year 945, when a pair of conjoined twin brothers from Armenia were brought to Constantinople for medical evaluation. It was here that they were determined to be acts of God and the birth of conjoined twins was considered a proof that the male's sexual prowess was truly twice that of the average man. However, the Moche culture of ancient Peru depicted conjoined twins in their ceramics dating back to AD 300. The English twin sisters Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst, who were conjoined at the back (pygopagus), lived from 1100 to 1134 and were perhaps the best-known early example of conjoined twins. Other early conjoined twins to attain notice were the "Scottish brothers", allegedly of the dicephalus type, essentially two heads sharing the same body (1460–1488, although the dates vary); the pygopagus Helen and Judith of Sz_ny, Hungary (1701–1723), who enjoyed a brief career in music before being sent to live in a convent; and Rita and Cristina of Parodi of Sardinia, born in 1829. Rita and Cristina were dicephalus tetrabrachius (one body with four arms) twins and although they died at only eight months of age, they gained much attention as a curiosity when their parents exhibited them in Paris. Author: by Hatab Fadera Taiwanese Ambassador Applauds Operation Clean the NationTuesday, July 29, 2008 The Taiwanese diplomat made these remarks on Saturday at He called on people to maintain cleaning their environment on a regular basis. “Personally I am happy to be part of this noble exercise”, he said. Momodou Kotu Cham Secretary of State for Environment applauded the Taiwanese ambassador for the active participation in the exercise. The day he said will always be remembered. “ This is highly commendable and worthy of emulation”. He called on other foreign missions in the country to also copy from the Taiwanese embassy. Momodou B Sarr, Executive Director National Environment Agency (NEA) said that this months cleaning is unique and symbolic for that is the first time a an ambassador is participated not only funding but personally actively participated with his fellow countrymen. He reminds the public that throwing litres on the streets is now an offence. Mr. Joseph Jassey, Permanent Secretary Defence also President Friends of Taiwan ICDF made similar remarks. Meanwhile, at the end of the exercise the various three groups who participated where given cash prizes for collecting the heaviest, the most garbage collected and best efforts groups respectively. In presenting the prizes on behalf of ambassador Shih, Mr. Su thanked all those who participated in the exercise. “We have made this part of the country the most cleanest and beautiful”. The embassy also provided hundred T-shirts, lunch and water for those gathered at the site. At the end of the exercise all the materials used where donated to the NEA. Author: By Nfamara Jawneh Source: (Monday, 28th July 2008 Issue ) Taiwanese Embassy in Support of Operation Clean the NationFriday, July 25, 2008 In the quest to support operation clean the nation, the Embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan, in collaboration with the Department of State for Environment, will tomorrow, Saturday 26th July, embark on a massive cleansing exercise. A media release from the Taiwanese Embassy revealed the move is meant to complement government’s efforts to clean the environment and fight against malaria especially during this rainy season. The activity, which starts at 9:00am, will end at 13:00pm. The activity location is at Chech Point, Denton Bridge, Banjul- Serre Kunda High Way toward Kanifing Municipality. Participants at the event will be divided into three groups A, B and C who will compete on the occasion. Two groups will win prizes of the heaviest and the most garbage collected respectively. The third group still can win the best effort prize. The Taiwanese Embassy will offer a hundred T-shirts, water and food on a first come first served basis. The Taiwanese Ambassador, Mr. Richard Shih, Secretary of State for Environment, Permanent Secretary for Defense (also the president of Friends of Taiwan ICDF), Executive Director NEA, Mayor of KMC, Mr. James Tsai leader Taiwan Technical Mission among a host of dignitaries will grace the occasion. The general public is highly welcome to partake. The cleansing of this magnitude is the first of its nature where at the end of the exercise Ambassador Shih and other guests will present prizes to the deserving participants. Author: By Nfamara Jawneh KAC Complements Operation Clean the NationWednesday, July 09, 2008 The Chief
Executive Officer of Kerewan Area Council has disclosed that the dream of
sustainable development cannot be achieved without a positive holistic move
towards waste management and disposal.
Tamba Kinteh revealed this during the launch of the Council’s waste management strategy in Kerewan that is tailored to suit waste management and disposal problems in the North Bank Region’s developing towns and Lumo villages. He said their newly established strategy aims to complement the efforts of the monthly Operation Clean the Nation initiated by the head of state President Jammeh. In the North Bank Region, CEO Kinteh said his council would be rotating every Saturday to developing towns or Lumos where they would work hand in glove with communities to clean their environment. “We would want to involve all community members as potential stakeholders by bringing the weekly activities to their doorsteps in a bid to help them be responsible for the cleaning of their own environment”. In their expansion efforts towards waste management, CEO Tamba Kinteh disclosed that the council has spend thousands of Dalasis on the purchase of cleansing working materials including wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels, garden forks, gloves and masks. He further revealed that they would hire tractors to collect waste during their routine cleansing activities or set-setal’s in the developing towns and Lumo concentrated areas. For his part, the council’s development officer, Lamin LM Marr, said it is the primary responsibility of the council to provide basic services for the tax payers. He further revealed that the newly developed waste management strategy will address waste or garbage collection in all the growth centres like Farafenni and Kerewan, and other expanding communities and Lumo centres. He disclosed that the council has two vehicles running the services of waste collection and disposal, but recently he said the other vehicle had broken down and therefore need to be serviced. Marr said that as waste management, collection and disposal is very expensive, the council is therefore appealing to the UN system, NGOs and other international and philanthropist organisations to help and provide it with tractors, bins, trailers and other materials that would enable their waste management process. The National Environment Agency, being the institution tasked with the co-ordination of waste management, will also be targetted by the with a view to initiating a fruitful collaboration and system of co-operation. Bakary Seckan, the council’s financial controller, who is co-ordinating these developments, appealed to all communities in the North Bank Division to take this noble initiative as their own. “A clean environment hosts healthy people,” he said. He noted that the issues and needs of the taxpayers are the highest priority on their agenda and their satisfaction in terms of service delivery is their pride. Author: By Sheikh Alkinky Sanyang (NEA) Operation Eradicate Malaria Kicks-off in JanjangburehFriday, June 27, 2008 The Operation Eradicate Malaria Campaign, which was conceived and launched by President Jammeh in February 2008, recently began in Janjangbureh in CRR. The official beginning was the end of a ten-day training exercise for spraymen on the technicalities of indoor residential spraying. The training was organised by the National Malaria Control Programme under the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare. 20 participants drawn from different regions took part in the training and they will now act as trainers in their regions when the major implementation takes place later this year. During the training the participants were taught how to safely use the dot insecticide which is the World Health Organisation’s recommended chemical for use in households. As part of the training the newly trained spraymen conducted practical sessions which involved spraying houses all over Janjangbureh. Speaking at the end of the training, Kanyi Touray, the Governor of CRR, thanked President Jammeh for buying all the chemicals and spray equipment. He also implored the population to co-operate fully with the operation in order to eradicate malaria. Speaking on behalf of the programme manager, Bala Kondeh, senior programme officer at the National Malaria Control Programme, said the end of the training marked the preparation for the implementation of a mass spraying exercise in the countryside. Malaria control, according to him, calls for concerted efforts and as such different strategies are used for malaria control. In relation to how prepared the nation is, he revealed that the president has already ordered over 300 expert sprayers at a cost of D1,000,000. He finally hailed the Medical Research Council for providing both technical and human resource assistance. For his part, Dr. Mamo Jawla, the head of disease prevention and control unit of the World Health Organisation, said indoor spraying is one of the best methods of malaria control. He expressed the hope that new techniques would help speed up the eradication of Malaria in The Gambia. Dr. Samson Jaiwo Awolola of the Medical Research Council described the training as very productive and said all the participants had been imparted with all the information they needed regarding indoor residential spraying. Author: By Pa Modou Faal Little Jainaba passes away Friday, May 30, 2008 Daily Obsever was informed yesterday morning that Little Jainaba, who underwent an operation on tumour on her left eye in the Senegalese capital of Dakar died on Wednesday at about 10.30pm. The three year-old Jainaba was hospitalised at Aristide Le Damtec in Dakar in February after developing a serious tumor which had threatened her life. The body of the late Jainaba was laid to rest in Charoi, Dakar, yesterday. Mr Andrew DaCosta, the deputy managing director of the Daily Observer, a trustee to the deceased’s account, said: “I called Emily Ben, a senior nurse attached to the professor treating Jainaba and the sad news is that Jainaba was on Monday put on medication and had a virulent negative reaction to the medication. According to Ms Ben, Jainaba had since she was put on the medication been vomiting non-stop until she died on Wednesday.” Mr DaCosta added that Isatou Barry, the late Jainaba’s mother, also confirmed the death of her daughter. “According to Isatou, the deceased’s father Alagi Jallow, who is currently residing in Bajana in Casamance was contacted and he consented for the deceased to be interred in Charoi,” Mr DaCosta explained. “Ms Ben said the entire medical team at the Dakar hospital were grief-stricken with the news of Jainaba’s death. We in The Gambia are equally shocked with the death of Jainaba. Prio to her demise, she was very healthy and we were very hopeful that she would make it,“ Mr DaCosta concluded. (See editorial and letters p 4). Author: by Lamin M Dibba Hope against hopeFriday, May 30, 2008 I entered the Daily Observer offices one evening some months ago to edit the newspaper and found a gruesomely disfigured face of a little girl on the front page. The editors explained to me that the little girl needed help for an operation to her face. I offered dalasi 10,000 from the Daily Observer kitty and you, dear readers, responded massively the next day. You, dear readers, and we here at the Daily Observer fell in love with Little Jainaba (for that was the little girl’s name) and hoped for the best for her. And it looked good. Her disfigure tumour was controlled using drugs and then successfully operated on. Little Jainaba became a ‘normal’ laughing child for a while. In Dakar, her mother simply said, “she plays, she laughs and greets people now something she never did before.” Last week we relayed news of progress and promised you that we will let you know when she returns and we added that we would celebrate. Sadly, seven days or so later, Little Jainaba’s soul has headed off to Paradise. We pray for her, and we know Allah will bless her little soul. But we are also sad, very sad. We will miss her, we will miss her return from dakar to The Gambia. We had even organised a vehicle to bring her home. When we asked the Speaker of the National Assembly for her car and driver to bring Little Jainaba home, the Speaker said yes without hesitation. As it is, Allah’s will is that her final resting place should be in our sister country Senegal where she was laid to rest today. We are also left asking ourselves some very tough questions. Were we right to get so emotional involved in Little Jai’s struggle? Did we act irresponsibly in raising so many people’s hopes when the case initially looked so hopeless? Valid arguments can be made either way, and we will accept humbly the views of our readers. We share our sorrow with Little Jai’s family and with all our readers, specially those who like the First Lady Madam Zinab Jammeh and the gentleman in the letter opposite, got so moved that they became personally involved. All our fates are in the hands of Allah and we pray that Allah blesses Little Jai and give her soul eternal rest. Author: DO Little Jainaba’s ProgressMonday, May 26, 2008 Editor’s Note: Readers have written to ask about Little Jai’s progress. 1. Operation on the large tumour has been completely successful. She now jumps about and plays with everyone, whereas she used to hide fom everybody. 2. The second eye is being treated with drugs and an operation will follow. 3. Of her D160,000 readers contributed, only D20,000 has been used so far. My deputy Andrew Dacosta is a trustee and keeps an eagle eye on her money. Donors are most welcome to drop into the daily Observer and inspect the accounts. 4. We will keep you updated of progress - and will tell and celebrate with our readers when she finally returns home to The Gambia well. Many Thanks. Dida AJ Halake, MD Author: DO Wonders at A S B ClinicWednesday, May 07, 2008 The Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) meaning in English, Workers’ Samaritan Federation, has been in operation since 1888 and it is open to all. Their charism includes helping the poor and needy of society. It is evident in The Gambia that they go in to treat very serious cases that demands overseas treatment and those people cannot afford it. This week over sixty patients would be treated by experts in plastic surgery in the likes of Dr. Li, head of the medical team, Dr. Knop and Dr. Siegert. The cases they treat are the worst type of medical problems that no other doctors can possibly perform in the country. They have removed the biggest tumor and brought back to size the largest clef lips. Augustine spoke to Beatrice Weigell the Beatrice reiterated that the ASB Clinic was present in EIG: What about Beatrice W: The project in The Gambia is development cooperation. The ASB runs the out patient since 2001. In 2005, we established the clinic opened together with the National AIDS Secretariat within their HARP (HIV/AIDS Response Project). Our project with NAS was based on the Improvement of Medical Health Care for women in The Gambia during and after Pregnancy and delivery with the focus on Sensitation for Maternal Health Care and HIV/AIDS Mother to child Transmission. This was why they gave us some money to build the clinic, which was about $ 98, 0000, the ASP added 80, 000 Euro to complete the programme. We cure a lot of ailments but we are not HIV/AIDS hospital but we do also consider that. EIG: Is it an expensive hospital? Beatrice M: We admit people and it is not expensive. It is not a private clinic it is an NGO. When people pass by they do not know there is a theatre or such good machines. EIG: Are you well located for the help you give to the needy? Beatrice M: Yes! We reach the poor easily and that is what we stand for. EIG: Have you any cardiological treatment? Beatrice M: Cardiological problem is beyond us. We can do ECG and send it to EIG: Do you have many employees? Beatrice M: Yes! We have 32 employed ranging from all sections in the hospital facet. We treat about 36, 0000 patients yearly. Our relationship with the Department of State for Health is cordial, infact Dr. Malick Njie; the SoS for Health will visit us today to see our doctors. We have immunization every week, malaria programme, we have close contact with the government. Some hospitals normally refer their patients here. EIG: Can we talk about the on going treatment by your visiting doctors, what cases are they treating? Beatrice M: They treat clef palate, burns, contractions, swelling of scars, tumor, and more and the operations are free for children. The ASB pays for everything, pays for the doctors and provide all that is needed for the operations that is why we demand for a minimal fee from the adults which cannot be compared to overseas treatment. We pay our staff for overtime and there are lots and lots of things that it entails. The highest children would pay is D50 for medicine. The consultation fee is only D5 for kids and D10 for adults. Those who come with difficult sores are charged D3 so that they will keep coming for their treatment before it goes worst. EIG: Has ASB undertaken any other project? Beatrice M: The ASB has undertaken one or two other projects in The Gambia. We have helped flood victims of Basse and helped refugees from Cassamance in EIG: How many very serious medical cases are undergoing the emergency treatment by your plastic surgery team? Beatrice M: We registered about 90 patients and they are here for only a week, so they work from morning to night. I believe they will do about 60 because some of the sicknesses are really complicated and it takes time. Last year they were able to treat 30 patients, the clef palate takes too long to do. Some patients come for continuation of their operations done on them last year. Dr. Li, the leader of their plastic surgery team, was happy to speak to me and disclosed how happy it was to be here to help other and to do things. He says, “We have lots of support form the local staff and the patients are patient. We have seen results from last year. We are happy to work for humanity.” We have more patients than that of last year. We have a lot of encouragement from Beatrice Weigell and others. We concentrated on clef patients, those with clef lips and palate, burnt scars; we have 6 or 7 with baked tumors in the head and neck area. We are on this one at the moment in theatre as you can see. We had about nine patients yesterday, we worked till night and we hope we can do more to finish our programme here. “It is a pity we can’t finish all as some come from far away places. But we hope to come and do more next time.” Dr. Li said there were difficult operations, those with big tumors and the case we are about to do is also very difficult as all the left skin is stocked to her hand and can’t move it freely. “We shall do skin grafting and help her get a better look.” The ASB hospital has been rated by many as one of the best in the country. The areas are all aptly decorated with the right equipments to help the poor, for what the ASB Clinic stands. By all standards, the hospital is a sample of a hospital that needs emulation from many quarters. As an NGO themselves, they are asking for assistance to be able to get more people with difficulties especially those that desire overseas treatment, which they can now do at ASB at Serrekunda German. Kindly see them if you can help to facilitate their job. Author: By Augustin Kanji |
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