Ten ambulances and medical equipment strengthen emergency care in The Gambia -

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The Gambia has received 10 fully equipped ambulances and critical medical equipment under a regional health project financed by the African Development Bank Group (Bank Group), in a major boost to emergency response, diagnostics and access to essential health services.

The equipment was officially handed over on 9 July 2026 in Banjul at a ceremony presided over by Gambia’s Vice-President Muhammed B.S. Jallow. The ceremony brought together representatives of the Government, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Health Organization (WAHO), the African Development Bank Group, development partners and members of the diplomatic corps.

The support is part of the Bank Group’s Regional COVID-19 Response Project, implemented by WAHO across ECOWAS Member States. The regional operation is valued at about $22.38 million, with The Gambia receiving approximately $3.4 million.

The package includes four-wheel-drive ambulances, haemodialysis machines, X-ray and ultrasound equipment, anaesthetic machines, oxygen concentrators and other essential supplies. It is expected to support faster emergency referrals and clinical services and improve diagnostics. Beyond equipment, the project has supported the training of more than 1,400 health professionals in disease surveillance, infection prevention and control, field epidemiology, biomedical equipment maintenance and other priority areas. It has strengthened national capacity to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.

Speakers at the ceremony highlighted the importance of sustained investment in resilient health systems and stronger regional cooperation. The Minister of Health Ahmadou Lamin Samateh described the support package as a landmark, noting that it represented the largest single contribution of ambulances The Gambia had received from one institution.

“The equipment being handed over today is not merely an investment in healthcare infrastructure, it is an investment in people,” said Joseph Ribeiro, Deputy Director General of the African Development Bank Group for West Africa, in the Bank’s message at the ceremony.

“It is an investment in mothers who will receive safer care, children who will grow up healthier, health workers who will be better equipped to serve their communities, and institutions that will become more capable of protecting public health.”

The Bank Group’s message commended the Gambian Government, the ECOWAS Commission, WAHO, the Government of Germany and implementing partners for their leadership and collaboration. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to stronger health systems and improved regional health security across West Africa.

As the ambulances and medical equipment are deployed, sustained maintenance, skilled personnel and effective systems will be essential to ensure lasting impact. The support is expected to help reduce delays in emergency care and enhance The Gambia’s readiness to respond to future health emergencies.

Source : AfDB