In common with most developing countries, The Gambia has high infant and child mortality rates, and a significant proportion of the MRC Unit’s work in The Gambia is currently directed at addressing these issues. This is very much in line with the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG4): To reduce under-5 mortality by two-thirds by 2015.
There is a large burden of preventable disease in this group and a large return on investment made in child survival interventions in terms of productive life saved. Reducing child mortality has indirect benefits also, such as alleviating the problems of overpopulation and poverty by reducing the incentive to have large families.
The momentum generated by the Millennium Development Goals has led to increased interest in the area of child health and survival. The felt need there is in the Gambian community to stop children dying makes the Unit’s partnership with the Government and community towards this shared aim very powerful.
