The construction of the Amath-Dansokho Regional Hospital in Kédougou is part of a policy of better access to health care. Three other hospitals have been opened in Touba, Kaffrine and Sédhiou at a total cost of approximately CFA 97 billion (EUR 147.7 million). After more than two years of work, Kédougou Hospital is coming to free the population and healthcare staff, although there are some fears and issues left.
The large white buildings at the new hospital with 150 beds denote the red laterite road that stretches several kilometers from the city center. Inside, director Amadou Dieng is very pleased with the modern equipment that has been installed: “If we move forward, we have the delivery room just opposite, you have the mother operating room. There are ten beds with four operating rooms. That makes a total of five operating rooms for the hospital. ”
Resuscitation, orthopedics, cardiology, so many specialties that were not supported in the current health center in Kédougou, which had found itself playing the role of regional hospital. His chief physician, Dr. Fodé Danfakha, is therefore relieved.
“It was an overload of work. So the opening of the hospital will enable us to breathe, because the primary goal is public health. We must work much more towards prevention than care, explains Dr Fodé Danfakha.
Shortage of staff
The Regional Hospital will reduce transfers to Tambacounda, a city more than 200 kilometers away. But the population remains mixed, like the young Mohamed Touré: “My mother died of high blood pressure. Resuscitation, there was none. It hurts very much. The hospital is very important to us. If the hospital is there, the equipment is there, but the staff is not there. There are no qualified people here. It is doomed to failure. ”
If specialists have already been recruited, Governor Saer Ndao will ensure that staff will be recruited from time to time.
