The availability of medical facilities and services continues to be challenge across the world. Shortages of medical personnel contribute to these challenges and this is evident in rural communities including those in The Gambia. Most rural communities in The Gambia resort to traditional health practices / services which are the most readily available to them because of the long distances of these communities from medical facilities, poverty within these communities making it impossible for them to finance costly medical facilities, the lack of trust in orthodox medicine and general ignorance.
Sheikh Abdullah Jah Charitable Foundation (SAJCF) is a non-governmental organisation that supports the livelihood of rural communities through the provision of free medical and water initiatives to people living in the rural areas of The Gambia and surrounding countries; whom are most in need for this service. SAJCF was established through the foresight of members of the Jah family to reach out and help people living in rural communities around country not only by treating their ailments but also by educating them on health related matters that affect their lives. In recent years the Foundation has also embarked on several community developmental projects within rural communities which included the establishment of water / irrigation projects and educational programs.
The main priority of SAJCF is to provide free health services to those who need it the most.
The Foundation was named after Sheikh Abdullah Jah in the memory of his life and the way in which he died; due to the lack of the availability of basic medical treatment at that time. Deprived of medical treatment, Sheikh Abdullah Jah lay sick in his bed for the last three months of his life until he died.
SAJCF was registered as a legal organisation in The Gambia on 24th February 2004 and was given NGO (Non Governmental Organisation) status on the 10th June 2004.
The Foundation has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare of The Gambia and other international health organizations.
Our main aim is to provide free medical services and health education to people living in rural communities of the country regardless of religion or ethnicity.
We achieve this work by:
- Mobilising our well equipped mobile medical caravan and volunteers around the rural regions of The Gambia.
- Contributing to The Gambia’s National Health Strategy, by strengthening the awareness of community leaders and the capacities of informal community health personnel at the grassroots level, through the training component of our work.
- Providing development resources to rural communities around the country (specially in are of water / irrigation) and supporting specialist medical treatment locally and abroad for those who cannot afford it
- Working in partnership with The Gambia’s Ministry of Health & Social Welfare and other international health organizations.
Due to the limited medical facilities and services available to people in rural areas, we know that our work helps to minimize this gap and promotes better health education amongst our people. Our work is organised so as to compliment the existing medical facilities and services provided to the population, and we have a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare of The Gambia to this effect.
The Foundation’s work has been successful thanks to the support of our partners including members of the Jah family, private individuals and companies within The Gambia and abroad. Partners who have supported our work over the years include Sonko Jileng Enterprise, GAMWater, QuantumNet Co. Ltd, DBC Quality Design, National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW), Faal Jah & Associates (Legal Services), Islamic Solidarity Fund, International Relief Organisation (IRO based in Kuwait), IQRAA Foundation For Humanitarian Relations, Bakhsh Group Mustaqbaliyat Group and Islamic Development Bank.
The commitment and hard work of our invaluable volunteers has ensured the effective and efficient operation of the Foundation over the years.
- Well equipped ambulances ( one of which has been donated to Fass Omar Saho village in Upper Nuimi
- Utility pick-up trucks to transport materials and equipments, especially for the mobile clinic
- A 14-passenger van and an 8-passenger 4-wheel drive Land Cruiser vehicle for the transportation
of volunteer doctors and staff during the organisation’s medical caravan trips - Medical equipments (including lab / diagnostic equipment) and drugs (listed under free medication)
The Gambia also known as the ‘Smiling Coast’, because of the friendliness of its people, is one of the smallest countries in the world and is located at the very west of Africa. Bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the West and surrounded on all other sides by Senegal, it has a population of over 1.6 million people with close to 70% of the population living in rural regions.
The country’s main hospital, located in the capital city Banjul, is called the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH – formerly known as the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH)). EFSTH has very stretched resources and due to insufficient funds, equipment and staff, finds it difficult to cater for the fast growing medical needs of the people of the country. The country has other regional hospitals; however they are also stretched with resources.
SAJCF acknowledges these challenges and it is for this reason that we passionately strive to complement and contribute to the medical work provided to the population.
SAJCF is founded on the spirit of giving to the needy which Sheikh Abdullah Jah lived his life time and trained his children on
Our Team
Prof. Omar Jah
President
Dr. Abubacarr Jah
Secretary General
Muhammed Jah
Financial Director
Saihou Ndow
Operations Director
Prof Muhammadou M.O. Kah
Special Adviser
Ebrima Jah
Special Adviser