Accidents, emergency services and overwhelmed hospitals: The Ministry of Health's strategy to secure the Gamou of Medina Baye

The Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Ibrahima Sy, was in Kaolack on Tuesday, taking the opportunity to review the health arrangements for the Gamou scheduled for August 25th.

According to him, the plan involves mobilizing 1,387 healthcare workers, 53 ambulances, and 23 million CFA francs worth of medications. He emphasized the prevention of traffic and domestic accidents, awareness campaigns, road safety improvements, and first aid. The visit also allowed the minister to commend the efforts of the Kaolack Regional Hospital Center and reaffirm his commitment to strengthening healthcare services in the region.

According to the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Ibrahima Sy: “Thousands of pilgrims converge on the religious city of Medina Baye Niass. The Gamou represents one of the largest human gatherings in the country and requires a very high level of preparation, organization, and coordination. Every year, the Ministry deploys significant human, logistical, and technical resources to ensure the health and safety of the faithful, in a spirit of responsibility, solidarity, and anticipation.”

He also praised the regional hospital's efforts to upgrade its technical facilities, emphasizing that this contributes to strengthening healthcare services and improving patient care. "We also have the Medina Baye health center, which has benefited from targeted reinforcement. We are also working to accelerate the completion of the Gadiaye and Kasnack health centers so that we can concretely implement the regional hospital's level 3 healthcare project," he added.