The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has approved $32.2 million to fund the creation of the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences at the University of The Gambia, in a major boost for the country’s struggling health sector.
The funding is part of a wider $297 million package approved for development projects in three African countries Gambia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mauritania aimed at improving public services, creating jobs, and supporting long-term economic growth.
The decision was made during the IsDB’s 361st Board of Directors meeting held earlier this week.
Gambian officials say the new medical school, expected to break ground later this year, will help address a chronic shortage of doctors, nurses, and health specialists across the country. Once operational, it will offer full training programs for medical students and allied health professionals, increasing the number of qualified healthcare workers entering the public system.
The broader IsDB financing package includes €200 million ($234 million) for a major transport overhaul in Côte d’Ivoire and €26.18 million ($30.72 million) for the expansion of a cardiology center in Mauritania.
The Jeddah-based bank says its latest financing round aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on projects that have direct social and economic impact. Since it was founded in 1975, the IsDB has provided about $65 billion in funding across Africa, including nearly $20 billion dedicated to trade finance.
In Gambia, where access to quality healthcare remains uneven and life expectancy hovers below the global average, the new medical school is seen as a critical investment in the country’s future.
