In this week’s Health Promotion, we bring you excerpts of the interview we had with Dr Ahmet Secka, the newly appointed Chief Medical Director of the Royal Victorial Teaching Hospital (RVTH), where he spoke at length on a wide range of issues including his background, profession, qualifications, as well as plans for the country’s main referral hospital, the RVTH.

Below is the full text of the interview. 

Tell us about yourself

I am Dr Ahmet Secka. I was born in Dakar (Senegal) from a Gambian mother. I am the first grandson of  late Imam Momodou Lamin Bah,  former Imam Ratib of The Gambia. My mother is the oldest living child to late Imam Måomodou Lamin Bah. I did all my schooling in Senegal and graduated in 1995 at the University of Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar with a doctorate degree in medicine. 

Upon graduation, my late grand uncle, late Lawyer Abdoulie Drammeh requested for me to come back home and work in The Gambia, and I had to comply. I started in the RVTH the 1st March 1996. I worked in the medical unit from that date to 2005, when upon request from the then CMD, I became the head of the Infectious Disease Clinic( IDC). In 2009, I joined the National AIDS Secretariat as the Care and Support officer.

What are your qualifications?

 I am a physician with the rank of  registrar in the Department of Internal Medicine. I did         trainings on blood transfusion medicine, non  communicable diseases, all fields of HIV . I am a trainer in the HIV  programme. I am presently doing my masters in Health Promotion/ Public Health with the University of Leeds in collaboration with the University of The Gambia (UTG).

Have you worked in the health sector before?

As I said earlier on I worked from 1996 to 2009 at  The RVTH before joining the National Aids Secretariat (NAS).

What is your vision for RVTH as a new cmd? 

My vision is His Excellency’ s vision under the guidance of the honourable Minister of Health. The challenge is to make the RVTH a reputable teaching hospital where quality of care will be the norm. We want the Gambian population to be proud of  and trust the RVTH for the  quality services offered; the staff to be proud to be associated with the RVTH; staff of the RVTH to be looked at with envy; all departments to offer the best in terms of treatment standards; His Excellency to be happy that all the efforts he is putting into the health sector, particularly the RVTH, be rewarded, so that he can boast of our achievements. We want staff from all over The Gambia to compete to be part of RVTH. We want RVTH staff to be the best not only in the country but in the sub region. All departments must  conduct researches as this is the way forward in any teaching hospital.  We want the RVTH to be a clean place with an  ecologically  friendly environment.

How do you intend to reform the needs of the general public at rvth?

We cannot   ahieve any reform without the blessing and support of His Excellency, and the honourable minister of Health. We cannot achieve anything alone as this is not a one man show ; rather a team effort and commitment. All contributions will be solicited; from the orderlies to the highest cadres of the hospital. All positive ideas will be welcomed, including  from the general public. 

What do you have for the doctors?

There are doctors because there are patients. Medicine is about always learning; so we want knowledge to be imparted on all staff every single moment. This can better be achieved if we work in teams, that will be headed by the most senior doctor.

Training plans will be drafted for everyone, with set targets and objectives. This will be done in collaboration with the School of Medicine as the two entities cannot function separately.

Any other message? it is time for action, not words. We are appealing to the whole population  to be patient as changes cannot happen within days. May Allah guide us in this task.

Thank for granting me this interview.

It’s a pleasure.