The foundation of American International University West Africa (AIU) arose from the agreement dated 1998 with Government of Guinea to establish a hospital in Conakry, Republic of Guinea. American Hospital, known as Centre Medical International was established in Gbessia, Conakry and inaugurated by H.E. Lansana Conte, The President of Republic of Guinea on November 16, 1998. The provision of the 1998 Agreement for setting up an institution of higher medical AIU, whose charter was approved in 2007 by the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Republic of Guinea (Decree No: 2007/1224/ME/MESRS/CAB). Consequent to the approval of the charter of American International University West Africa by Government of The Gambia, in August 2010, AIU established Health Science Center at The Gambia, consisting of five colleges, College of Medicine, College of Dentistry, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing and College of Health Professionals. The Gambia campus located at 89 Kairaba Avenue, opened for classes on January 31, 2011. Students from 11 countries are enrolled as of December 2011. AIU has signed an agreement in September 2011 with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Government of The Gambia to utilize all the Government owned health facilities for educational purposes for its students. In 2012, AIU is planning to start building a new campus to accommodate new students and to provide new learning facilities for its five colleges.