Internationally recognised for its track record of research into tropical infectious diseases and  the UK’s single largest investment in The Gambia, MRC Unit The Gambia (MRCG), will be visited for the very first time by United Kingdom (UK) Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr Boris Johnson,, on Tuesday 14th  February 2017.

Boris Johnson is a Member of Parliament (MP) and a member of the British Conservative Party. He has been UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs since July 2016 and a MP for the Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency since May 2015. He had previously been an MP for the Henley constituency from 2001 to 2008 and was later Mayor of London from 2008 to 2016. The Foreign Secretary’s visit is timely as it coincides with our 70th anniversary commemoration of tackling major infectious diseases of global public health importance in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. MRCG has been operating in The Gambia for longer than most of the country’s other structures and has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with the host government. Through a longstanding partnership with the Gambian people, via the provision of high quality health care, training and employment opportunities, it has established unparalleled good will with the local population.

In honour of his visit, a press conference will be organised to shed some light into the UK Government’s support for the new leadership in The Gambia and hope for the country's future.