Claim: Surgical operations suspended at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) due to water shortage.
Source: Kerr Fatou/Facebook
Verdict: TRUE
Researched by Awa Macalo
A viral claim on social media platforms, including Facebook and X suggests The Gambia’s main referral hospital, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) has suspended surgical operations due to the unavailability of water at the facility.
The claim was first published by Kerr Fatou Media on its website and Facebook page citing a witness account of the situation. The unnamed witness is quoted to have said; “There has been no running water at the hospital’s main theatre since Monday, 14th October 2024. It is against this backdrop, patients had their operations cancelled until Allah knows when.
“This may sound weird, but that’s the situation. When I was informed by the doctor about this on Monday, I asked him when is the next possible date for the operation, but he just promised that we’ll be called as he doesn’t know when the issue will be resolved.
“Fast forward this morning, after waiting for over 48 hours without hearing from the doctor, I decided to reach out, but he again informed me that the problem isn’t still resolved,” the witness said in Kerr Fatou’s publication.
The news report has generated some reactions from the public who shared their concerns on social media (here, here, and here.)
This fact-check report seeks to verify the accuracy of the report.
Background
The Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) is a tertiary referral hospital in Banjul, the capital city of The Gambia. It is the largest hospital in the country, originally founded by British colonialists in 1853. Until 2013, it was known as the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH).
EFSTH became a teaching hospital during the 1990s, in order to tackle the reliance on foreign doctors. The school is operated in conjunction with the University of the Gambia.
Fact-check
FactSpace Gambia contacted the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Kebba Sanneh, who said:
“I do not want to comment on this issue at the moment. However, I know that the hospital management has not released any formal information regarding this situation. I personally have not received or seen any surgical doctor in this hospital who has stopped or couldn’t perform operations on a patient due to the unavailability of water supply in this facility for two days or more as indicated on social media. We believe whoever is behind this publication should first visit the hospital and have first-hand information before publication online,” he said.
However, a surgeon who opted to remain anonymous told FactSpace Gambia exclusively that, “the hospital has for long been struggling with water shortage which he said sometimes led to the postponement of some medical procedures in the hospital.”
He also explained that sometime last year, the pediatric nurses had to come out and protest due to the lack of water supply in the hospital.
“I cannot recall the exact date but sometime last year, there was a protest from nurses and doctors who work in the pediatric units, they went out to show their dissatisfaction on the issue of water shortage because they were unable to do their job. So this has been happening and is not new to us,” he said.
Relatives of patients speak to FactSpace Gambia
FactSpace Gambia also spoke to some relatives of patients who confirmed the situation adding that it was affecting them financially.
“The taps are mostly not functional, you would have to walk around the premises to see one with running water,” Binta Jaiteh, a relative of a patient said.
Ousman Touray, also a relative to a patient said “To even use the restroom or perform ablution, you have to go outside, buy bottled water and then use it. I am not aware of a patient’s operation being cancelled due to lack of water but I believe it is something possible, because we sit for days without seeing a drop of water from the tap, and the standby generators are not functional.”
Muhammed Sillah who has been in the hospital since September 27, 2024, said “Nothing works in this hospital, electricity is not stable, no good drinking water. We buy everything in this hospital, including water.”
EFSTH’s history of water supply challenges
In April 2023, the hospital received a donation of water tanks and a compressor worth half a million dalasi from WHIPSO Gambia, in partnership with WHIPSO Germany to boost the water supply.
The tanks provided were stationed at the following facilities within the hospital: Operation block – 5000 liters tank; Accident and Emergency block – 5,000 liters tank on the ground, 5000 liters tank on the roof; Accident and Emergency doctors flat – 2,000 liters tank; UTG medical science unit – 3,000 liters tank; the Masjid – 2,000 liters tank; X-Ray – 5000 liters tank; and Maternal ward – 5,000 liter tank and 2000 liters tank.
It is worth noting that most tanks in the hospital entirely depend on the Gambia National Water and Electric Company (NAWEC) for supplies.
According to the hospital’s deputy Public Relations Officer, Sabel Ensa Jarju, the utility provider, is the source of the water shortage.
“The constraints we are facing come directly from NAWEC. The reserve tank that typically supplies the Albion area is no longer functioning, leaving the hospital entirely dependent on NAWEC’s water supply. When their supply is low, we cannot get the amount of water we need to operate effectively,” Jarju is quoted to have said in an article published by Gambia Journal on October 16, 2024.
He added that the hospital had received emergency support from the Fire Service to pump water for limited use, but this measure remains temporary and insufficient.
Conclusion
From the accounts of the victims of the situation, FactSpace Gambia concludes that the viral news report is accurate.
Insights gathered from the accounts shows that the shortage of water is a common phenomenon at the facility.
