By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
Dr. Babucarr Cham, President of the National Association of Gambian Registered Nurses and Midwives, has issued a strong call to the government, UNFPA, and health sector stakeholders to prioritize retaining nurses and midwives, warning that the ongoing exodus of skilled professionals is undermining the country’s healthcare system.
Speaking on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Serrekunda Health Center during celebrations marking the International Day of Nurses and Midwives, Dr. Cham emphasized the urgent need for concrete action beyond recruitment. The event, held under the theme “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” brought together nurses and midwives from across the country for reflection and advocacy.
“To the government of The Gambia, the UNFPA and all other stakeholders, and our partners, we thank you for the support you are rendering to nurses and midwives in this country. But we ask you, invest in retention. Invest in retention,” Dr. Cham declared.
He highlighted the alarming rate at which experienced nurses are leaving the country, citing a loss of 54 highly trained nurses at the teaching hospital alone in a single year (2023 or 2024). “It is critical that most of our qualified, highly skilled nurses are leaving,” he said. “They are all going, so let us train and retain our nurses.”
Dr. Cham called for multifaceted support, including the construction of standard housing in rural health facilities to ease accommodation challenges. He pointed out the financial strain on nurses, noting that even basic rentals can cost up to $5,000 per month for modest accommodations. “A nurse who is worried about paying her rent in The Gambia… cannot focus and give the care that the patient will need,” he stressed. “So let us take care of our nurses.”
Additional demands included salary increases, enhanced risk allowances, and extending on-call allowances to more midwives to ensure timely responses.
Dr. Cham also urged healthcare administrators to involve nurses in policy-making, arguing that those at the bedside best understand systemic challenges. “The nurse at the bedside knows where the problem is or where the system is leaking,” he said. “Giving the nurses and midwives a seat at the decision-making table will have a huge impact on the overall service delivery.”
In a heartfelt appeal to the public, Dr. Cham asked citizens to treat nurses and midwives as family members and to refrain from harassment or blame for issues such as drug shortages. He encouraged nurses themselves to remain resilient, patient, and calm under pressure.
Basirou Drammeh, CEO of Kanifing General Hospital and guest speaker, reinforced the message, describing the theme as particularly timely. “If we truly want a stronger health system in The Gambia, we must empower our nurses,” he stated. Drammeh described nurses as “the heartbeat of health care delivery,” present at every critical stage of life—from birth to end-of-life care.
“They dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription,” he added. Drammeh called on authorities to provide nurses with the necessary tools, training, and an enabling environment where they feel valued and heard.
The celebrations served as both a tribute to nurses’ contributions and a platform for urgent advocacy.
