Gambiaj.com – (DOHA, Qatar) – The Gambia has secured US $32.2 million in financing from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to support the establishment of a School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (SMAHS) at the University of The Gambia, in what is seen as a major boost for the country’s health and education sectors.

The funding approval was announced following the 361st meeting of the IsDB Board of Executive Directors, where over US $277 million in development financing was approved for various projects across member countries.

The Gambia’s allocation is part of the Bank’s efforts to create jobs, enhance access to essential services, and foster inclusive and sustainable development, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The project aims to address the country’s persistent shortage of healthcare professionals by expanding local training opportunities for doctors, nurses, and other allied health personnel.

The new medical school is expected to significantly reduce The Gambia’s dependency on foreign institutions for medical education and training.

Health experts and education advocates in the country have welcomed the move, describing it as timely and transformative.

“This project will not only improve access to healthcare training but also enhance the overall health system capacity of The Gambia,” one health policy analyst noted.

Elsewhere, the IsDB approved EUR 26.18 million for the expansion of the National Cardiology Center in Mauritania and EUR 200 million for an urban mobility project in Côte d’Ivoire.

The IsDB said its latest round of financing demonstrates its strong commitment to advancing transformative projects that directly improve people’s lives and drive sustainable development across its member countries.