The Clinical Services Department exists to provide medical care to staff, study participants and the general Gambian public.

Where we are located

Apart from our main clinic at the MRC Gambia Fajara campus, we also offer some services at our field stations in Keneba and Basse. 

Fajara

We provide general medical and paediatric services for both outpatients and inpatients in Fajara, as well as primary healthcare for our staff. 

• Primary care services
• Outpatient consultation, drugs and dressings
• Paediatric and adult medical care (diagnosis and treatment of all non-surgical conditions provided)
• Endoscopy
• Full microbiology lab
• Full biochemistry lab
• Full haematology lab
• TB, serology and molecular diagnostic services provided through the relevant research laboratories
• X-rays
• Ultrasound
• Ambulance services provided for transfer to referral centres
• A small number of our long-term patients are offered emergency access where this is clinically indicated

Please note that we have a limited range of investigations and treatments. We do not offer CT or MRI scanning, dialysis, high dependency or intensive care facilities and are unable to provide obstetric, gynaecological, surgical or psychiatric services and therefore refer to specialists in these areas. 

In addition, we do not have staff available to offer a 24/7 emergency service to the general public, so patients who present out of hours are usually redirected to other services. 

Find out more about our Fajara clinical services.

Keneba

We provide primary care to the local population of West Kiang in Keneba. Three doctors and a team of nurses and midwives provide care to members of the public who present to the clinic in the morning. This is primarily an outpatient service providing care for general medical and paediatric conditions. There is a limited midwifery service, providing antenatal care and normal deliveries. A 24-hour emergency service is available to the public. The clinic has a two-bedded ward for admissions. 

Patients with other conditions are referred on either to Bwiam General Hospital or to Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH). Services provided in Keneba are free to use, but patients from outside West Kiang are given prescriptions to buy medications from private pharmacies. 

Basse

We have a small staff clinic providing outpatient services to our staff in Basse. There is no service for the general public. 

Number of patients served

The Gate clinic in Fajara opens in the early hours from Monday through to Friday and the first 100-150 patients are given tickets to enter. 

Overall, a total of around 25,000 consultations are undertaken each year at the Gate clinic, another 25,000 consultations in the Outpatient department in Fajara and about 20,000 consultations in Keneba. Between 1,000 and 1,500 patients are admitted to the wards each year. 

Patient access fund

The Clinical Services Department plays an instrumental role in providing essential medical services to our local community. We passionately believe that access to healthcare should not be determined by one's geographical or socioeconomic background. MRC Gambia is determined and committed to playing a key role - both through our work on the ground and in leading important fundraising and resource mobilisation activities - in supporting the needs of as many patients as we can. To do this, we need your help.

Donate to the patient access fund

Contact details

For general enquiries and private patient booking:

• Email: csdrecords@mrc.gm