MRC The Gambia has worked in tandem with the Government and people of The Gambia for many years, particularly with the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare. Below are a few examples of this partnership:

1. The Gambia Government/MRC Ethics Committee. This committee, which is made up of lay persons, Government representatives and senior MRC staff, is responsible for reviewing all medical research projects carried out in The Gambia, after review and approval by a recognised scientific committee such as the MRC’s Scientific Co-ordinating Committee (SCC).
   
2. National AIDS Secretariat (NAS). MRC assisted NAS in its successful bid for funding to provide and implement anti-retroviral therapy in The Gambia. MRC continues to provide logistical and technical support to this project, as well as running training programmes and developing other capacity building initiatives.
   
3. Gambia Government/MRC Joint Committee. Twice a year, MRC scientists and their counterparts in Government meet to provide a summary of current activities, future plans and to discuss potential areas of collaboration.
   
4. University of The Gambia School of Medicine. MRC staff regularly deliver lectures to the students of the recently established School of Medicine. Students have also been given the opportunity to spend their elective periods with the Clinical Services Department at the Unit.
   
5. Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital. MRC provides support to RVTH in several areas including the provision of staff, disease surveillance, management of severe malaria in children and a malnutrition ward. Once a week, MRC/RVTH conduct joint ward rounds at RVTH.
   
6. MRC Clinical Services. The Gate Clinic registers an average of 250 new patients every day, mostly Gambian, but with a good proportion of other nationalities also. The Outpatients’ department includes the general OPD, staff clinic (which services over 750 workers), Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic (to which HIV cases are referred) and a tuberculosis clinic. On average, 4 physicians cover this clinic daily, reviewing and following up cases referred from the Gate Clinic; managing new patients and referrals from government hospitals, private hospitals and non-governmental organisations. More limited clinical services are also provided at Basse, Farafenni and Keneba field sites, and weekly clinics are held in some villages in Farafenni.
   
7. Collaboration throughout The Gambia. MRC maintains strong community relations at regional level through:
1. Working with Divisional Health Teams
2. Encouraging dialogue between MRC project leaders and village and community leaders about proposed studies or results of such studies.

MRC also works with a large number of organisations in the country including:

1. Sight Savers International
2. Gambia Family Planning Association
3. Nova Scotia Gambia Association
4. World Health Organisation
5. Hands on Care
6. WEC International
7. Action Aid
8. Santa Yalla Support Society (Support group for people living with HIV/AIDS)
9. Tesito

Please see Guide on Ethical Approval Procedures.