UK-Gambia health research partnership marks eight decades
The Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia celebrated its long-standing collaboration with the UK at an open day event.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine hosted an open day on Wednesday, celebrating nearly eight decades of health research and partnership between the United Kingdom and The Gambia. Established in 1947, the unit is the UK’s largest investment in health research in a low- and middle-income country, supported by UK Research and Innovation.
Deputy British High Commissioner Ella Penton-Voak highlighted the global impact of research from The Gambia, citing insecticide-treated bed nets as a key factor in transforming malaria prevention worldwide. She noted that the recent Edinburgh Prize for Global Health Impact awarded to the Ministry of Health and the MRC recognized this achievement. The MRC also trains scientists through partnerships with UK universities and African institutions, strengthening research capacity across the continent.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Lamin Dampha, emphasized the open day's role in fostering public trust and understanding of the MRC's work. He commended the unit's support for The Gambia's immunization program, tuberculosis research, and its vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dampha encouraged students to become future public health leaders, noting that Gambian communities have been partners in research for generations.
Why it mattersThe partnership between the UK and The Gambia in health research directly benefits Gambian communities through improved health policies, saved lives, and strengthened health systems.