National Assembly Building In Banjul.
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The National Assembly of The Gambia on Monday passed the Nutrition Bill 2024, a significant piece of legislation aimed at strengthening the coordination of nutrition-related interventions across the country. The bill mandates the National Nutrition Agency to carry out its functions with full legal backing.
The bill was introduced to lawmakers by Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow. After progressing through all required stages, including the first and second readings and the consideration stage, it was read for the third time and officially passed on Monday.
During the second reading, Vice President Jallow explained that the bill underscores the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of Gambians as stipulated in the 1997 Constitution and various United Nations conventions and declarations on food and nutrition security, to which The Gambia is a signatory.
He noted that the legislation outlines practical steps for applying the Constitution and international conventions, ensuring that adequate nutritional services are provided to protect the rights of citizens.
“The bill also provides for the establishment of the board of directors to manage the affairs of the agency and equally gives it the powers to inspect hospitals, healthcare institutions, schools, care homes, prisons, and other relevant institutional establishments to ensure that the nutritional needs of persons in these institutions are met,” he said.
The Vice President emphasized that the legislation will empower the government to address the nutritional needs of vulnerable populations.
“To further achieve this commitment by the Government, it has necessitated the holistic approach for reviewing the Food Act which gives the Agency the role to act as the lead agency in handling nutritional issues coupled with the wordings in the national nutrition policy and to come up with a comprehensive legislation to address the issues of nutrition as envisaged by the government pronouncement to make available the resources as well as empower institutions to better handle nutrition issues, for a better livelihood of its people,” he told the members.
The bill highlights the government’s resolve to ensure that policy goals related to nutrition are implemented without unnecessary delays, reflecting its dedication to improving the well-being of the population.