The Medical Research Council in the Gambia has put in place strong measures to ensure patient privacy and confidentiality during both COVID-19 preparedness and response processes.
The centre said its communication on case management and test results is carefully designed to protect the identity of any persons receiving support from its unit, regardless of their test results.
It added that it has become aware of information circulating on social media and a local radio station, linked to the distribution of a supposed photo of the isolated COVID-19 patient in our Fajara Clinic.
“We inform the general public that the photo circulating on social media is not a photo of the patient,” a statement on the unit’s website statement.
“We wish to reassure the public that our unit operates on high professional and ethical standards. We take patient privacy and confidentiality very seriously, and this applies to all services we offer. Our operations are equally governed by the international General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), and we follow these standards strictly.
“Our frontline health workers and technical experts continue to deliver excellent service to support the Government of The Gambia to deliver efficient responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to continue supporting the Ministry of Health and the National Health Emergency Committee.
We urge all media personnel to desist from spreading false information in these critical times. We encourage the media to support response efforts by sharing only reliable and verified information, to avoid causing panic within the general population.”
A 21-year old woman Wednesday became the first Gambian to test positive of the Coronavirus.
The woman, who has not been named, is said to have travelled to the small West African country on 13th March from the United Kingdom via Morocco.
She was reported to have visited the Medical Research Council in Fajara on 16th March after developing a fever but no cough and sore throat.
Test results later proved positive and the woman has been put in isolation and is receiving treatment at the Medical Research Council.
