Burama Badjie is the administrator of Bansang Hospital, part of the Ministry of Health in the Gambia. He began his nursing career more than 25 years ago as a bedside nurse and joined Bansang Hospital in 2014. Before becoming administrator, he worked as principal nursing officer and head of Clinical Services. Burama is a seasoned national trainer, leading courses including Integrated Management of Childhood Illness; Emergency Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health; and Neonatal Care. He earned an MSN from the National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences in Taiwan. Additionally, he received his Higher National Diploma in Midwifery as well as RN certificate from the Gambia College, School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Applied Project Title: Strategies to Increase Skilled Health Workers in Rural Gambia
Maternal mortality is unacceptably high in The Gambia, with 500 deaths per 100,000 live births. This is due, in large part, to an inadequate number of skilled birth attendants in rural health regions. Most skilled birth attendants are located in urban regions where they work for the private sector. This project focused on ways to attract more skilled birth attendants to rural areas of the country, with the goal of reducing maternal mortality and improving health outcomes. Specifically, the report explored creating incentives such as annual awards and hardship allowances, as well as mandatory minimum rotations, to recruit and retain these critical workers.