The Republic of the Gambia

The Gambia is a long (530 km), thin (55 km) West African country defined by the Gambia River and, except for where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean, it is almost fully enveloped by Senegal. As personified by Kunta Kinte in Alex Haley's "Roots", The Gambia bears a sad burden of history: more than 3 million Gambians were victims of the transatlantic slave trade.

English is the official language, a relic of British rule through the mid-1960's (Gambians fought for the Allies in WWII). Today, the Gambia holds free elections, and the 1.6 million populace of the Gambia (90% Muslim, 10% mostly Christian) practice religious tolerance. Their market-based economy is 80% agrarian, almost all focused on subsistence farming. Per capita income is US$350 per year.

Education varies by sex: boys attend 6 years of school, girls attend 4 years. Literacy rates run 47% for Gambian males, and only 32% for Gambian females.

The Gambian healthcare system struggles to meet the needs of the Gambia's people: four hospitals currently serve the entire Gambian population! Their needs are daunting: though fertility rates nearly triple the US, 45% of the population is under Age 15 and average life expectancy is only 55 years. The adult prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS is nearly twice that of the US. Infant mortality rates are 12 times US rates, and the under-5 mortality rate is fifteen times the US rates.