(JollofNews) – The Gambia is poised to benefit from a €220 million hospital project from an Israeli medical institution to promote health tourism in tiny West African state.
The country’s President Adama Barrow yesterday received the team from the International Medical Services (IMS) at his Fajara State House where he discussed with them on the possible implementation of the project.
“We are set to build the hospital which would likely result in other African countries reaching out to The Gambia for health care services,” IMS President Ovadia Yardena said during talks with President Barrow.
He said the project financing loan will be a five-year grace period and would be paid between 15 to17 years after 10 years of operation.
Mr. Yardena said the hospital would be 100 percent funded by IMS, including engineering, procurement and construction.
“The project contract would include provision for upgrading some of the existing state hospitals and health facilities,” he said.
President Barrow is optimistic that the project will be a blessing to The Gambia and would contribute to the country’s health delivery system.
According to official sources, the hospital will provide for women and children, and 50 VIP rooms. It is anticipated that it will also cater for a theatre and other modern monitoring facilities.
Yankuba Saidy, Permanent Secretary for Investment at the Office of the President, said investment in the health sector is a priority for the Barrow administration.
He said the investment plan will include skills and transfer of knowledge to Gambian counterparts.
Gambian government is expected to identify a seven-hectare parcel of land for the project. The project is also expected to attract other companies to establish offices in The Gambia due to its proximity with the United Kingdom.
In the new Gambia there are some important areas our government must pay close attention to.
1. Security
2. Power
3. Healthcare
4. Economics and
5. Education
My Barrow will find that he will become inundated with all kinds of proposals from different groups claiming they can do all kinds of things. First it is important to develop a vetting process for all these groups. Who are they? What is their experience? What is their track records? etc.
Concerning healthcare, this company and its principal are not household names in this area. A quick search of the internet seems to point to business interests in small arms procurement all over Africa and the Middle East. It is curious that they are also very closely aligned with the president of EG where Yahya Jammeh is a welcome visitor. How they got so close to our president without anyone in this government asking serious questions is baffling. We don’t need to be so desperate that we fail to exercise good judgment, to do due diligence. Easy guys, Easy!!!
God Bless The Gambia.
[Israeli Medical Institution] and [International Medical Services]???
Then poor Gambia becomes a hot spot for human organs trafficking, humans for laboratory research and new drugs testing ground…..Still worst for Gambia if it fails to pay this loan package in 15 to 17 years. Be wary of these fat pads of Dollar bills and Euros. We shouldn’t say we have not been told!
Amen, well said Bourne, Israel the eugenics king, here they come to administer the implementation of two child per couple. Gambians you need to find a real Gambian President for the people fast, how can any country with ethics go to bed with Israel?
Here’s an article that tells you how twisted these things (people) are, do you know how many people/nations/tribes these things killed to create Israel?
http://www.jonathan-cook.net/blog/2014-09-26/israels-very-own-history-of-eugenics/
Quite right again Mr Bourne; The Merchant of Venice, remembers Shylock well.Whose pound of flesh this time ? In 17 years those in government today will be sleeping with the fishes and the children born today will have just started paying tax.
It’s building pyramid time. Good work for the Senegalese contractors and hard labour for Gambians. It would be better to train doctors and nurses and refurbish the ESmall hospital. Right now there’s no drugs or bandages and most equipment don’t work for lack of service and spare parts. So who will pay for running costs by then ?Where is the industry and the tax revenue to come from? To build the roof without the foundation is to say the least>>very reckless. Another photo opportunity for the ghosts of time.