Gambia: Dr. Samateh Vows Major Overhaul At Tanka Tanka

Gambia: Dr. Samateh Vows Major Overhaul At Tanka Tanka

Health Minister Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh has acknowledged that mental health remains one of The Gambia's most pressing yet under-addressed challenges revealing that about 8% of Gambians live with some form of mental disorder and that the country currently relies on just one psychiatric hospital to serve the entire population. He thus promised major overhaul in the hospital.

Dr. Samateh vows major overhaul at Tanka Tanka

Currently, The Gambia has only about six to seven psychiatrists for its entire population—one of the lowest ratios in the subregion. Yet, Dr. Samateh said the ministry is already partnering with Egypt to build psychiatric capacity and expand mental health care beyond the Greater Banjul Area. “Mental health affects families, communities, and workplaces,” he said. “It’s time we stop treating it as a side issue and make it part of mainstream health…

First major concrete pour for major new mental health facility

CONSTRUCTION OF the new $540 million Integrated Mental Health Complex at the Westmead Health Precinct has reached a significant milestone, with the completion of the first major concrete pour for the project. The concrete will form the foundation for the new state-of-the-art health facility, marking the next phase of construction as the building begins to take shape. Approximately 1,300 cubic metres of concrete will be used in this first stage t…