10th may 2004:

Undergraduate medical students at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital are to benefit from a gift to their library of books to value over D3 million.
The books were purchased by Adama Sallah, Registrar of the Gambia Medical and Dental Council, in collaboration with the Hipple Research Institute of Ohio, USA.
Dr Sallah, who is the proprietor of Lamtoro Clinic, presented the books on Monday during a ceremony at State House.
At the ceremony, President Yahya Jammeh presented ten computer sets and medical books donated by UNDP to the medical school. The President thanked Dr. Sallah, describing him as an exemplary Gambian.

'A reality'
He said The Gambia now has a medical school in order to stand on its own feet and even to offer services to other countries. The President said that despite many difficulties the Gambian medical school is now a reality. He declared that he wants it to become the best in Africa.

Dr. Sallah said that as Registrar of the Medical Council he had been privileged to assess the readiness of the Royal Victoria Hospital to become a teaching institution; and the greatest need had been a library. He said that the books he was presenting should be readily accessible not only to students but to qualified doctors. Dr Sallah said he is already looking into ways of providing more materials for the school.
He saluted President Jammeh for starting the school and appealed to Gambians, the donor community and the private sector to help provide resources so that the school may be well established.

Dr. Yankuba Kassama, Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare said that there are one hundred and fifty students at the medical school, including post-graduates.

The Vice President, Isatou Njie-Saidy added her thanks to Dr Sallah.

A Medical Student, Abba Hydara proposed a vote of thanks.

Reported by Momodou Trawally