National Nutrition Policy 2010-2020

SECTOR

Ministry of Health

CONTENT

The National Nutrition Policy (2010–2020) of The Gambia aimed to eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition while promoting optimal nutrition for all Gambians. It sought to ensure a healthy and sustainable livelihood through improved nutrition.

Specific Objectives

1. Maternal and Child Nutrition: Improve maternal nutrition and promote optimal infant and young child feeding practices.

2. Food Security: Ensure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of safe and nutritious foods.

3. Micronutrient Deficiencies: Prevent and manage deficiencies through supplementation and food fortification.

4. Hygiene and Sanitation: Promote personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, and access to safe water.

5. Community Engagement: Strengthen community-based nutrition interventions and education.

6. Policy Integration: Mainstream nutrition into national development policies and programs.

7. Capacity Building: Enhance institutional and human resource capacity for effective nutrition programming.

Summary of the Content

The National Nutrition Policy (2010–2020) provided a comprehensive framework to address malnutrition and its underlying causes in The Gambia. It emphasized the importance of maternal and child nutrition, food security, and hygiene. Key strategies included:

• Promoting the use of locally available, nutritious foods.

• Supporting breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices.

• Implementing food-based interventions to improve dietary diversity.

• Strengthening inter-sectoral collaboration to address food and nutrition security.

• Advocating for infrastructure development to support food production, storage, and distribution.

The policy envisioned a Gambia free of malnutrition, where all citizens have access to adequate and nutritious food, contributing to improved health and socio-economic development.