Africa-Press – Gambia. The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology has announced that the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has approved funding of $32.20 million to support the establishment of the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (SMAHS) at the University of The Gambia’s Faraba Banta Campus.
This approval was granted during the 361st meeting of the IsDB Board of Executive Directors, authorizing the commencement of the SMAHS project, which aims to enhance medical education and healthcare training in the country.
The initiative seeks to develop a state-of-the-art and fully equipped medical school to improve the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of healthcare education and service delivery across The Gambia. It is designed to address the country’s pressing shortage of healthcare professionals by expanding access to high-quality medical training, increasing the number of locally trained doctors, nurses, and allied health workers, and strengthening research and public health capabilities.
In an official press release, the ministry highlighted the IsDB’s confidence that the project will contribute significantly to building a robust pipeline of health professionals, thereby enhancing the resilience and quality of The Gambia’s national health system.
“The IsDB expresses optimism that the initiative will support the Gambia to address the country’s critical shortage of healthcare professionals by building a pipeline of locally trained doctors, nurses, and public health experts, ultimately improving the quality and resilience of the national health system,” the ministry noted in its press release.
The project is structured into four key components: the construction of five academic buildings with shared facilities; supervision of construction and equipment installation; provision of sixteen advanced medical and laboratory devices along with telemedicine technology; and academic and faculty development initiatives, including curriculum improvements and international training opportunities.
The ministry expressed sincere gratitude to the Islamic Development Bank for its sustained support of the Government’s National Development Plan, particularly in advancing The Gambia’s Higher Education Transformation Agenda. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging higher education as a strategic driver for the country’s economic development.
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