Gambiaj.com – (BUNDUNG, The Gambia) — The Chief Executive Officer of Bundung Maternal and Child Hospital (BMCH), Dr. Mamadi Cham, has announced strong maternal and child health outcomes for 2025, highlighting a 98.3 percent live birth rate and a low mortality profile, as the hospital held its annual staff awards ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Cham disclosed that the hospital recorded a 1 percent birth-related mortality rate in 2025, reinforcing BMCH’s reputation as one of the most patronized public hospitals among Gambian women. He attributed this to the quality of care, positive health outcomes, and a conducive environment for patients.
According to Dr. Cham, outpatient department attendance stood at 44,990 in 2025, while Accident and Emergency visits rose by 30.6 percent—from 11,656 in 2024 to 15,228 in 2025. Inpatient admissions also increased by 9.8 percent, from 4,594 in 2024 to 5,042 in 2025, with an overall inpatient mortality rate of 1.6 percent.
He noted that out-referrals increased slightly from 917 in 2024 to 951 in 2025, with more than 68 percent of those referrals involving geriatric patients. Of the 4,258 antenatal care registrations recorded during the year, 60 percent of expectant mothers were accompanied by their spouses at least once for antenatal visits.
Dr. Cham further revealed that 1,110 women—representing 26.1 percent of antenatal registrants—booked within the first trimester of pregnancy. A total of 4,148 pregnant women were counselled for HIV screening, all of whom voluntarily accepted testing, with only 1 percent testing positive. In addition, 6,137 women underwent abdominal ultrasound scans in 2025.
“In 2025, Bundung Maternal and Child Hospital recorded only one maternal death,” Dr. Cham said. He added that 1,643 people were voluntarily counselled and tested for HIV, with a positivity rate of 4.8 percent. The hospital also registered 1,332 new family planning acceptors, alongside 3,734 revisits during the year.
With over 5,631 births recorded in 2025, immunization birth doses reached 87 percent for BCG, 93 percent for Hepatitis B, and 89 percent for Polio. Dr. Cham disclosed that 1,185 surgical operations were performed during the year, with caesarean sections accounting for the highest number.
Summarizing the hospital’s key performance indicators, Dr. Cham said partner presence at antenatal care stood at 60 percent, while partner presence at birth was 40.5 percent.
The skilled birth attendant rate was 99.8 percent, the caesarean section rate 19.5 percent, multiple births 1.5 percent, and births before arrival 1.5 percent. He added that the institutional maternal mortality ratio was 18 per 100,000 live births—well below the Sustainable Development Goal target for 2030.
Dr. Cham credited the hospital’s staff for the achievements, noting that the impressive outcomes would not have been possible without their dedication and professionalism.
“Our staff are the ones who interact directly with patients, providing care and support in a dignified and professional manner,” he said. “I therefore salute them for their continuous support over the years.”
He explained that the Board and Management of BMCH instituted the annual staff awards to recognize and motivate employees for improved performance and better health outcomes. During the ceremony, outstanding staff members from every department were honored.
The 2025 ceremony marked the third edition of the hospital’s staff recognition awards, which have been held annually since 2023 as part of management’s strategy to promote excellence and motivate high-performing personnel.
