Gambia:Last Three Kanifing Estate Fire Victims Discharged

Mar 07,2007 00:00 by Anna

The last three patients of the 30th October 2006 Kanifing fire disaster, who were admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH), were yesterday discharged. Among them is Abdou Boye.

Speaking at their discharge ceremony, Dr. Tamsir Mbowe, the Secretary of State for Health, confidently declared that the patients were now physically fit, adding that RVTH is one of the best hospitals in the sub-region. Dr. Mbowe thus commended President Jammeh for the moral, financial and medical support that he rendered to the Kanifing fire disaster victims. He also thanked the companies and individuals who have been supporting the fire victims.

Dr. Malick Njie, the Chief Medical Director at the RVTH, said these patients, who had undergone a four-month treatment, responded positively to treatment. Most of the victims who died, according to Dr. Njie, succumbed as a result of excessive burns covering 60 per cent of their bodies. He maintained that not every patient who comes to the hospital should be evacuated overseas. “It is the doctors who have to determine that,” he stressed.

For his part Abdou Boye, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, thanked President Jammeh, the medical staff, companies and individuals who have been supportive throughout their ordeal.

It could be recalled that fire broke out in the compound of the Ousman Njie of G86 in Kanifing Estate on the 30th October, 2006 inflicting 18 people with burns, 14 of them severely. The victims were consequently hospitalized at the RVTH.