The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) on Wednesday, 22nd July 2026, convened the inaugural meeting of the Technical Committee for the Development of a Nursing Capacity Building Project Proposal at its Conference Room in Banjul.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), the Gambia Nursing and Midwifery Council, and tertiary institutions across the country to begin work on a strategic proposal aimed at strengthening nursing education and workforce development in The Gambia.
Delivering the welcome statement, the Permanent Secretary of MoHERST, Ms. Isatou Auber, expressed appreciation to members of the Technical Committee for accepting the Ministry’s invitation to serve, noting that their collective expertise in policy, healthcare practice, and academia will be instrumental in addressing the country’s nursing workforce challenges.
Ms. Auber highlighted that the establishment of the Committee reflects a shared commitment to advancing the nation’s health sector and responding to the growing need for a stronger and more resilient nursing workforce. She noted that challenges relating to the production, deployment, and retention of nurses continue to affect healthcare service delivery, particularly in rural and critical care settings, underscoring the need for a coordinated and multi-sectoral approach.
She further stated that the Committee has been tasked with developing a strategic and comprehensive project proposal that will serve as a key resource mobilization tool to engage development partners, donors, and stakeholders in supporting nursing capacity building initiatives in The Gambia.
Emphasising the importance of the Committee’s work, Ms. Auber encouraged members to draw on their expertise and collaboratively review and strengthen the Draft Terms of Reference to ensure the development of a robust and impactful proposal.
She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to providing the necessary administrative support to facilitate the Committee’s work and expressed confidence that the initiative will contribute significantly to strengthening nursing education and healthcare delivery in the country.
The inaugural meeting concluded with the invitation of the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, to deliver the keynote address and formally inaugurate the Technical Committee.
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