Darboe pledges 24-hour power for hospitals, better maternal healthcare

United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainou Darboe has pledged round-the-clock electricity supply for hospitals and a renewed push to improve maternal healthcare, describing quality healthcare as a fundamental right that should be accessible to every Gambian regardless of where they live. The veteran opposition leader while speaking during an exclusive interview with The Point at his Pipeline residence, said a UDP-led government would prioritise equipping hospitals with reliable power and life-saving medical equipment while intensifying public health education to reduce maternal and infant mortality. He argued that expectant mothers and critically ill patients should never have their lives put at risk by power outages, inadequate healthcare facilities or the lack of specialised services in regional hospitals.

He vowed to wage an uncompromising fight against corruption, mismanagement and wasteful public spending, while pledging to restore accountability and transparency in government if elected president in the forthcoming December presidential election. Darboe, who is also the flagbearer of an opposition coalition, said a UDP-led administration would place integrity and prudent management of public resources at the centre of governance, insisting that state resources would be utilised solely for the benefit of Gambians. Darboe maintained that his track record demonstrates a longstanding commitment to exposing corruption and holding governments accountable. "I have been fighting corruption since 1996 under the former regime of Yahya Jammeh," Darboe said. "I was among the first people to raise concerns about the millions of dollars that entered the country from Taiwan. I also spoke out on issues surrounding government dealings in crude oil. Throughout my political…