As part of efforts to ensure continuity of essential sexual and reproductive health services during the COVID-19 pandemic, UNFPA The Gambia on 12 January presented PPE including facemasks and hand sanitizers to the Bundung Maternal and Child Health Hospital (BMCHH).

Receiving the items on behalf of the facility Mr. Kebba Manneh, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital expressed gratitude to UNFPA, citing that the agency has supported the facility before and during the pandemic, particularly to ensure that pregnant women and new mothers receive quality maternal health care.

“This support is timely and life-saving as we all grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic which has negatively impacted the health sector worldwide and The Gambia is no exception.” – Kebba Manneh CEO, BMCHH

Located in Bundung about 16 kilometers from Banjul, the BMCHH runs a Reproductive and Child Health Clinic whose services are sought by women and their families from various parts of the Greater Banjul Area. This makes their catchment area large and the need for adequate tools to protect both healthcare workers and patients who come to the facility from COVID-19 more significant.

Speaking on behalf of UNFPA, Mr. Ahagie Kolley, Programme Analyst Sexual and Reproductive Health highlighted that pregnancies and childbirth do not stop even during pandemic. Thus, the health and wellbeing of pregnant and breastfeeding women and their newborns or unborn babies as well as that of healthcare workers attending to them at health facilities are of paramount importance.

UNFPA is currently supporting the construction of a waiting shed for the antenatal unit at the facility in order to ensure availability of adequate seating space for new mothers who come for their routine health checks with their newborns, while ensuring the observance of proper physical distancing as part of COVID-19 preventive measures. This is part of UNFPA’s wider support to the national COVID-19 Response, which focuses on three strategic intervention areas:

• Ensuring continuity of sexual and reproductive health services
• Addressing Gender Based Violence and providing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
• Support women and young people live dignified lives

These interventions are hinged on the UNFPA Global COVID-19 Response Plan.

Media contact:

Haddy Jonga - Programme Analyst Communications, UNFPA The Gambia jonga@unfpa.org