National Nutrition Policy 2010-2020

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.