The facilities include 33 minor health facilities, seven major and six hospitals including one major and referral and teaching hospital. The president of AIU, Dinesh Shukla told Daily Observer in an interview Wednesday that they have been able to enroll 70 students from 11 different countries since they commenced operations in the country.

He said the government of The Gambia has also agreed to participate in the training of professionals in medicine, dentistry and pharmacy as well as allied health sciences, which include nurses, laboratory technicians, bio-medical engineering, radiology and public health.

Shukla disclosed that the AIU is also collaborating with the Health Ministry to provide health management information systems, disease surveillance, and on issues regarding international health regulations.

“We are ready to train professionals in any particular field where the need is most, so that the population receive good healthcare,” he added. He opined that a rigorous training programme and a good curriculum of international standard in The Gambia will attract not only students from America, but all over the world. He stated that the government gave AIU such an opportunity because it has trust in the university. He assured that the trust will be well guided.

Teachers training programme

Shukla also disclosed that the AIU will be starting a new programme with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education on October 15. He explained that the programme will entail the training of teachers so that they understand the art of teaching.

He said: “We are extending this programme to the Basic and Secondary Education Ministry so that teachers are well trained in techniques of teaching. This has been successfully developed by groups of professionals in the United States of America. We are really trying to teach local teachers to become excellent teachers.”

Shukla used the opportunity to thank President Jammeh and his government as well as the entire Gambian population for providing the university an enabling environment to operate.