Welcome to Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) from the Chief Medical Director (Chief Executive), Dr Mariatou Jallow.

Welcome to the RVTH website and I hope you will find your visit interesting and helpful.

The Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital, located in Banjul, is the main tertiary referral hospital in The Gambia, which also provides primary care through the Polyclinic, one of the 3 satellite facilities. The Hospital has undergone many positive changes since 2000; the most important being that it is now a teaching hospital. By the end of 2007, 23 Gambian trained doctors have graduated and there are a further 140 now in training. RVTH is also a thriving centre for the clinical rotation of State Registered Nurses, the training school being in Banjul, in close proximity to RVTH. The Hospital continues to provide the enabling environment for local and international research by various agencies in order to improve clinical care.

In 2007/2008 RVTH’s priorities have been focused on reducing infant and maternal mortality and strengthening clinical governance procedures. In order to ensure the focus on these priorities the following strategies are being employed:

• Stringent application of the quality management system, collection and review of mortality data and the reporting and review of adverse clinical incidents in order to constantly improve patient care.
• Ensuring there is prompt availability of blood especially within the labour and paediatric wards.
• Liaising with health facilities to ensure safe referral of patients.
• Continuing education of staff to improve quality of care.
• Ensuring adequate amounts of antibiotics are available in the paediatric wards.
• Supporting and initiating health education programmes in the community: as well as using the medium of radio and television to promote good health practices.

Although there are still many challenges that face RVTH, there are many positive things to rejoice about. The structure and services are comparable to any similar facility in West Africa and the level of equipment provision has greatly improved. In short RVTH has come a long way on the road to becoming a very successful teaching hospital. This process requires substantial funding from the Government and partners like you.

If you would like to like to make a donation to RVTH, whether in the form of equipment, drugs or financial support, please see the Donor page, which can be accessed by clicking here. Alternatively use the Contact Us page.