“Many Nurses Are Going On Leave Without Salaries”-Says NAGaNM Spokesman

Photo: Sanna Darboe (Photo Credit WhatsApp Image)

By Ousman A. Marong

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of The National Association of Gambia Nursing and Midwives (NAGaNM), Sanna Darboe, has said many nurses at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital EFSTH are going on a leave of absence (leave without salary) in which some have already reigned.

Mr. Darboe has made these revelations to The MAMOS Media, during a telephone interview on Friday, 7th August.

“So many nurses are going on a leave of absence (leave without salary), some have already resigned from EFSTH,” said Mr. Sanna Darboe.

Photo: Sanna Darboe 

The NAGaNM Spokesman said some of the nurses have withdrawn money to buy medications and foodstuff to distribute it to different quarantine centers strictly for their colleague nurses only. He said NAGaNM has on several occasions engaged the authorities to look into the plight of nurses and doctors before the beginning of the pandemic.

“We have been going up and down meeting and engaging the relevant authorities, but our efforts remained futile. As the current situation, we received complaints from our comrades a few days ago. We went rounds to find out if their complaints are factual, to our dismay, worst is happening,” he remarked.

He said after their visit to different treatment centers where their colleagues who were tested positive of the disease were kept, they realized that their conditions were not encouraging.

“Their conditions were quite horrible and no one was providing them with any medical attention. Some were packed at hotels where they have not looked after. They are there on their own doing everything for themselves,” Mr. Darboe said.

The NAGaNM Spokesman went on to say that every citizen has a right and responsibility to take care of him or herself.

He added: “In any, the situation, where you have all the nurses are being infected or quarantined no one will be there to take care of the patients.” 

He confirmed that more than 45 Gambian nurses have been tested positive of the deadly virus while others are currently under quarantine.

“These people have families to take care of. If they are not having the necessary materials to protect themselves, meaning they are putting their lives and families at risk,” said PRO Darboe.

He noted that NAGaNM currently needed support from everyone home, abroad, and from the government.  

“Family members should encourage and give support to the nurses and doctors and stop influencing them to resign or leave without salary,” he advised.

He opined that if such the trend continues everyone would end up leaving the profession while leaving the patients to die in the hospitals.

We overthrew Ex-President Jawara's Government Because of Corruption-Says Former Junta Vice Chairman

PHOTO Sanna B. Sabally (Photo Credit TRRC)

By Ousman A. Marong

The former Vice Chairman of the AFPRC Military Junta in The Gambia, Sanna B. Sabally told the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) that the main purpose of their (council members) military overthrow of the democratically elected government of ex-president Sir Dawda Jawara was because of the presence of the NATAG forces who took over the entire control and command of the Gambia National Army in 1994, coupled with political suppression in the country.

According to him, command in the army was directly coming from the NATAG forces, leaving the Gambian officers behind.
“ The Nigerian army commanded us anyhow without giving us any regard,” he said.
Sabally was testifying at the ongoing TRRC proceedings at the Dunes Hotel in Kololi. He revealed that they (the soldiers) took it upon themselves to stage a coup and that, they thought it was necessary to do away with the NATAG forces.
He disclosed that it took them almost 7 months discussing and planning how to go about with the coup. Sabally revealed that the formation of July 22, 1994, was planned by five of them, ie; himself (Sanna B. Sabally), Yahya Jammeh, Yankuba Touray, Sidibou Hydara, and Edward Singhateh. He said they informed 2nd Lt. Alfa Kanteh, Lt. Basiru Barrow, and Major Ndure Cham. He added that both Basirou Barrow and Ndure Cham rejected the idea of the coup and did not participate.
He highlighted that their last meeting before the July 1994 coup was held at the ex-president Jammeh’s residence in Fajara, and that, it was on the 20th July 1994.
The former Junta Vice Chairman Sabally further revealed that he was responsible for blocking of the telephone communications, and was also responsible for the supply of arms and ammunition.
“ Our first plan was to arrest ex-president Jawara at the airport, but it failed because Yahya Jammeh was disarmed at the airport,” he explained. He outlined that July 22, 1994, was their last day and it was a day of doing or die game because their names had already been mentioned in a planned coup.
According to him, they seized Radville Farm’s bus together with civilian vehicles and drove to Banjul where they found all the gates of the State House opened and from there they entered and occupied the presidential palace.
He revealed that they (coup plotters) swore to the Quran and Bible that they will rule for only 6 months and then hand over power to the civilians.