Gambia
The Gambia is one of the smallest countries in mainland Africa, yet like many in the region, it faces significant challenges in providing specialized medical care for children. Specialist neurosurgical services in The Gambia are centralized at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul. As of 2024, the country has a very small neurosurgical workforce—at times a single fully trained neurosurgeon serving a population of ~2.5 million—placing intense pressure on access and wait times. Persistent barriers include limited neuro‑imaging capacity and the out‑of‑pocket cost of CT scans for families.
The leading pediatric conditions needing neurosurgical care include hydrocephalus and spina bifida. Across Africa, hydrocephalus incidence is among the highest globally, underscoring the need for early detection, timely surgical treatment, and reliable follow‑up to prevent avoidable disability.
In 2025, NeuroKids began its partnership with the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul, supporting local providers and building the foundation for comprehensive pediatric neurosurgical care. The program focuses on improving access to life-saving surgery, strengthening perioperative care, and training healthcare workers to provide long-term follow-up for children and families. In partnership with Lamin Keita’s Hope, we can help ensure more children receive timely treatment and consistent follow-up care.
Number of children who have received hydrocephalus surgeries since NeuroKids intervention:
4 Children
Since 2025
Partner Hospitals
B A N J U L
Gambian Team
Dr. John Jabang
NEUROSURGEON
Dr. John N. Jabang is a Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul and a Senior Lecturer at the University of The Gambia. He also heads the Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery Units at the Ndeban Trauma, Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Centre.
Dr. Jabang is the first Gambian Neurosurgeon and, for nearly nine years, served as the country’s sole neurosurgeon, providing essential care to a population of over 2.4 million people. He obtained his medical degree from the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of The Gambia (2000–2007), and completed his Neurosurgery Residency at Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal (2010–2015). In June 2015, he became the first Gambian Consultant Neurosurgeon at EFSTH.
Between June 2016 and August 2018, Dr. Jabang pursued Fellowship training in Pediatric Neurosurgery under the mentorship of Professor Shlomi Constantini at the Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Tel Aviv Medical Centre, Israel. This advanced training provided extensive exposure to complex pediatric neurosurgical cases.
Renowned for his dedication to both patient care and institutional development, Dr. Jabang remains committed to expanding access to safe and effective neurosurgical care for children and adults across The Gambia and the wider region.
Dr. Lamin Janneh
NEUROSURGEON
Dr. Lamin Janneh is a neurosurgeon with more than a year of experience treating children with hydrocephalus and spina bifida. He earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from the People’s Friendship University of Russia in Moscow, where he studied from 2002 to 2009. He later completed a four-year neurosurgical residency at China Medical University in Shenyang, China, graduating in 2024.
Since completing his training, Dr. Janneh has been serving as a neurosurgeon at both Kanifing General Hospital and Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in The Gambia. His work focuses on addressing the significant shortage of neurosurgeons in sub-Saharan Africa and improving access to specialized care for children.
Dr. Janneh is passionate about advancing pediatric neurosurgical services in the region. He views his partnership with NeuroKids as an opportunity to deepen his expertise in the management of hydrocephalus, including the use of flexible neuroendoscopes, and to strengthen his skills through hands-on experience and mentorship. His long-term goal is to share this knowledge with other healthcare professionals in The Gambia through training, mentorship, and supervision — helping to expand access to life-saving care for children across the country.
Malick Jammeh
CLINICAL COORDINATOR
Born and raised in The Gambia, Malick is a dedicated nurse with more than 13 years of experience at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital. He holds a General Nursing License from the Gambia Nursing Council and joined NeuroKids in September 2025.
Throughout his career, Malick has been deeply committed to patient-centered care. His approach to nursing is grounded in empathy, kindness, and respect, and he believes every patient deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion, regardless of their background or circumstances. Malick is proud to be part of the NeuroKids team and is passionate about improving outcomes for children living with hydrocephalus and spina bifida.
Get Support
NeuroKids partners with local public and private children’s hospitals and individual surgeons to help build the skills and systems to better address hydrocephalus and spina bifida.
We train and support neurosurgeons in The Warf procedure using today’s technology to close the gap in surgical training and promote best practices in treatment and care. Through both in-person and remote technology, as well as equipment and supplies, we ensure practical training at scale, saving time and money.
Please reach out to learn how we can support your hospital with pediatric neurosurgical training and supplies, enabling your team to provide proven services and ensure children with hydrocephalus and spinal bifida receive the most effective care.
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Donate now and join us in our mission to make it possible for children with hydrocephalus and spina bifida to live longer and better lives. Together, we can make a difference that lasts a lifetime.
