NATIONAL NUTRITION POLICY_2021-2025

CONTENT

The National Nutrition Policy (2021–2025) of The Gambia aims to improve the nutritional status of the population, eliminate malnutrition, and ensure food security. It focuses on promoting optimal nutrition as a key driver for socio-economic development and aligns with global goals like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Specific Objectives

1. Maternal and Child Nutrition: Enhance 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

The National Nutrition Policy (2021–2025) provides a strategic framework to address malnutrition and its underlying causes in The Gambia. It emphasizes the importance of maternal and child nutrition, food security, and hygiene. Key strategies include:

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