The Gambia, like most West African countries, is a low-income country with very limited access to health services.

Close to 50% of the population lives below the national poverty line. Poverty is a major cause of poor health and a barrier to accessing health care. Because approximately 63% of Gambians are under 25 years old, youth are particularly impacted by these poor health care services.

The Kalabash medical team is a group of health care providers who bring free medical care to underserved populations in our international community. The medical team is made up of about 25 humanitarians of all ages, from teens to those in their 70s, mostly from the Pacific North-west area.

In February 2022, the team set up a clinic at the Kalabash Academy facility in The Gambia and invited patients from the region to come for free primary care services. The team of 25 medical providers set up a station-based workflow, so patients visited each provider that is needed. All needed medical supplies were brought to The Gambia with the team.

Over the span of 5 clinic days, the medical team of Gambians and Americans saw 1,257 patients.

Kalabash acts as the facilitator of these opportunities: providing free medical care to underserved populations in our West African communities. The two main beneficiary groups: Kalabash Academy student-athletes, and the greater local community, both benefit from this much needed service.

The Kalabash Medical Team will be a bi-annual program for underserved population in West Africa.