Handing over Ceremony of Certificates and Inauguration of the Cervical Cancer Screening Unit (RVTH)
The refurbished Cervical Cancer Screening Unit of the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) was inaugurated on 08th July 2010. The refurbished Unit is being sponsored by the Francis DeGaulle Njie Foundation. The inauguration was graced by the WHO Country Representative Dr Thomas Sukwa, UNFPA Assistant Representative Dr Reuben Mboge, and Chairman Hospital Management Board RVTH, Dr Ebrima Samba. The inauguration coincided with the awarding of certificates to thirty-five midwives and nurses who were trained on Cervical Cancer Screening and Detection by the Foundation.
Dr Emmanuel Bamgbelu speaking on behalf of the Chief Medical Director of the RVTH said that since the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital is the last point of call for referral cases in The Gambia, there is the need to modernise the hospital for an effective health service delivery. He therefore expressed gratitude to institutions that have contributed to the upgrading of the hospital. On behalf of the staff of RVTH, he thanked the Francis DeGaulle Njie Foundation for the foresight and described the initiative as timely taking into consideration the number of people who have lost their lives due to Cancer and other related killer diseases that require a lot of money to seek medical attention.
Dr Bamgbelu thanked the Foundation for the initiative describing their mission as a noble one. He finally paid tribute to the late Francis DeGaulle Njie.
For her part, Mrs Vivat Thomas-Njie, chairperson of the Foundation, disclosed that the Foundation was launched some four years ago by the family members and friends in order to keep DeGaulle’s memory alive. She added that, the Foundation is a charitable organisation working in the area of Health and Education.
According to her, the Foundation aims at supporting the education sector by sponsoring students as well as give support in the health sector. She cited the inauguration of the Cervical Cancer Screening unit as a testimony of the noble intentions of the foundation.
She indicated that, the Foundation since its inception has achieved their mission, adding that in 2008, the Foundation funded the training of 35 midwives and nurses on Cervical Cancer Screening and Detection.
She added that the refurbished unit will help in the training f nurses to better utilise their skills while assuring them of the Foundation’s continued support in the prevention and eradication of Cancer.
Mam Marie Jagne, Chief Matron at Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) described Cancer as the fifth most common disease in Women worldwide with approximately 471,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
According to her thousands of new cancer cases are been reported annually, with low and middle income countries registering the highest incidents of the disease. She revealed that, thousands of women lose their lives annually due to the disease across the globe. She informed the gathering that she was delighted that less cancer deaths are occurring each year now, thanks to increased awareness and simple medical tests such as pelvic exams and paps smears. The RVTH’s Chief Matron finally thanked the Foundation for their generosity.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Mbissin .O.Jah, SRN Trainee thanked the Foundation for equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills. She also thanked all those who in diverse ways have contributed in making the training a success.