This partnership between the Swansea NHS Trust, Swansea Medical School, the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital, Banjul and School of Medicine, The Gambia was established with support from THET in February 2007. In keeping with the philosophy of THET Links, the overall aim of the Swansea-Gambia Link is for the partners to work together for mutual benefit in priority areas identified by The Gambia partners.
 
The Swansea-Gambia Link aims to:
 

• Form working partnerships between staff and students in Swansea and The Gambia to improve health care outcomes 
• Establish a broad partnership in health - including clinical care, health service delivery, teaching and research 
• Emphasise capacity development of staff and students involved in the Link by including education and training as part of activities wherever possible
• Identify key areas of common interest that can be developed as stand-alone projects
•  Focus on facilitating improved health care delivery (i.e. use teaching and training as part of broader projects to improve service delivery)

Specific aims
 
Within the first 5 years, we aim to demonstrate that:
 

• reciprocal visits of staff and students between our 4 organisations to build personal relationships and become familiar with each other’s health care and working environment have been undertaken 
• a Memorandum of Understanding has been established
• 3-4 stand-alone projects in priority issues in clinical care, health service delivery, teaching and research identified by the Gambia partners have resulted in improved health outcomes
• student involvement in the Link has improved awareness and understanding in international health 
• staff involvement in the Link has provided professional development