Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – Surgical operations at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), Gambia’s main referral hospital, have been suspended for three days following a severe water shortage that has left staff and patients in a state of frustration and uncertainty, Kerr Fatou has revealed. Since Monday, October 14, the hospital’s main theatre has had no running water, halting scheduled surgeries and leaving patients in limbo.

A source at EFSTH expressed frustration with the prolonged disruption, sharing their story with Kerr Fatou. “There has been no running water at the hospital’s main theatre since Monday. Because of this, surgeries have been canceled indefinitely,” they said. “When I asked the doctor about a new date for my relative’s surgery, he could only say we’d be called when the issue was resolved. It’s been over 48 hours now, and we’re in a state of confusion and fear. My ageing relative is in pain, and we feel hopeless.”

Sabel Ensa Jarju, Deputy Public Relations Officer at EFSTH, pointed to NAWEC, the national utility provider, as 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 explained. 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.

Attempts to reach NAWEC for comment were unsuccessful, and hospital staff and patients alike are left anxiously awaiting a resolution. The current water shortage underscores the challenges facing Gambia’s healthcare infrastructure, highlighting a growing need for reliable utility support for critical institutions like EFSTH.