A UK-based charity, Livity of Zion, has expanded its humanitarian and healthcare support programme to The Gambia by providing free medical screenings, treatment and donations to patients at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul.
The outreach, held on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, saw a team of volunteer healthcare professionals attend to patients suffering from various medical conditions, including respiratory and skin-related illnesses, while also donating medical and baby care items to the country's main referral hospital.
Speaking during the exercise, Paris Nicholson, a member of Livity of Zion and a close associate of the charity's founder, Nubian Zuhrah, said the organisation was established to support vulnerable people in Africa and the United Kingdom through healthcare, education and humanitarian assistance.
She explained that the charity provides food, clothing and medical supplies to needy families, supports hospitals, assists students with tuition fees and undertakes other charitable initiatives. The team comprises doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, skin care specialists and dental practitioners.
As part of the mission, the volunteers conducted free health screening services and provided direct medical care to patients. Among those assisted was a child admitted to the hospital with recurring convulsions, who received specialised attention from the medical team.
The charity also provided support to a 17-year-old boy suffering from a severe skin condition. The medical team prescribed and purchased the required medication, easing the financial burden on the patient and his family.
Members of Livity of Zion said all costs associated with their humanitarian activities, including travel, accommodation and donations, are personally funded by the volunteers.
The initiative was welcomed by hospital authorities. Horeja Saine, Chief Matron of EFSTH, expressed gratitude to the organisation for its support, noting that the country's main referral hospital continues to require assistance to meet growing healthcare demands.
EFSTH Public Relations Officer Kebba Sanneh also commended the team for their contribution to healthcare delivery in The Gambia.
Later the same day, the delegation met with Dr Ahmad Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, to discuss potential areas of collaboration.
During the meeting, Nubian Zuhrah reaffirmed her organisation's commitment to supporting Gambians through healthcare, education and social welfare programmes. She highlighted the charity's ongoing interventions in the country and expressed readiness to partner with the Ministry to expand healthcare services and help address critical health challenges.
