Darboe pledges 24-hour power for hospitals, better maternal healthcare
United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainou Darboe has pledged round-the-clock electricity supply for hospitals and a renewed push to improve maternal healthcare, describing quality healthcare as a fundamental right that should be accessible to every Gambian regardless of where they live.
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The veteran opposition leader while speaking during an exclusive interview with The Point at his Pipeline residence, said a UDP-led government would prioritise equipping hospitals with reliable power and life-saving medical equipment while intensifying public health education to reduce maternal and infant mortality. He argued that expectant mothers and critically ill patients should never have their lives put at risk by power outages, inadequate healthcare facilities or the lack of specialised services in regional hospitals.
He vowed to wage an uncompromising fight against corruption, mismanagement and wasteful public spending, while pledging to restore accountability and transparency in government if elected president in the forthcoming December presidential election.
Darboe, who is also the flagbearer of an opposition coalition, said a UDP-led administration would place integrity and prudent management of public resources at the centre of governance, insisting that state resources would be utilised solely for the benefit of Gambians.
Darboe maintained that his track record demonstrates a longstanding commitment to exposing corruption and holding governments accountable.
“I have been fighting corruption since 1996 under the former regime of Yahya Jammeh,” Darboe said. “I was among the first people to raise concerns about the millions of dollars that entered the country from Taiwan. I also spoke out on issues surrounding government dealings in crude oil. Throughout my political career, I have consistently fought against injustice and corruption. I can assure Gambians that a UDP government will put an end to corruption.”
He argued that corruption and poor governance have hindered national development and deprived citizens of the full benefits of the country’s resources.
Darboe further declared that corruption would have no place under a UDP administration, emphasising that public funds would be directed towards sectors and programmes that improve the lives of Gambians rather than being squandered on projects that offer little value to the population.
“The era of corruption will be over under a UDP government,” he asserted. “The country’s resources will be used for their intended purposes, and the waste of public funds on matters that do not benefit Gambians will come to an end.”
The veteran opposition leader also reiterated his coalition’s commitment to good governance, transparency and institutional reforms, describing accountability as a cornerstone of his vision for national development.
Turning to the health sector, UDP leader Ousainou Darboe said a government led by his party would prioritise reliable electricity supply in hospitals across the country to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services, particularly during critical medical procedures.
He stressed that no patient should have to worry about power outages during surgery, childbirth or other life-saving treatments, adding that all major hospitals would be adequately powered to guarantee the safe delivery of healthcare services.
Darboe also underscored the need for intensified public health education, saying awareness campaigns should be strengthened to help citizens make informed decisions regarding maternal and child health.
“Public awareness campaigns should be increased by the health authorities so that people better understand maternal health issues, what to do during pregnancy and the precautions they need to take,” he said. “Proper nutrition and adherence to medical advice are crucial. Failure to do so can lead to complications during childbirth, which may result in the loss of the child or even the mother.”
The veteran politician further pledged that a UDP administration would work tirelessly to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, declaring that no child should die during delivery because of preventable causes.
Darboe also called for greater investment in existing healthcare facilities, arguing that improving current hospitals should take precedence over constructing new ones without addressing pressing capacity gaps.
“I have no objection to building hospitals across the country,” he stated. “However, before doing that, we must first take care of the hospitals that already exist.”
He expressed concern over the lack of essential medical equipment in regional health facilities, citing the absence of dialysis machines at Farafenni and Bansang hospitals.
“You do not have dialysis machines at Farafenni Hospital or Bansang Hospital, forcing patients from the provinces to travel all the way to the Greater Banjul Area for treatment,” he said.
Darboe maintained that access to quality healthcare should not depend on where one lives, pledging that his government would strengthen regional hospitals and improve the availability of specialised medical services throughout the country.
Source: The Point
