9 th IBFAN Regional Conference Kampala Uganda 1- 4 th Feb 2016 Mr Malang N. Fofana Ag Deputy Executive Director National Nutrition Agency (NaNA)

 Key players in IYCF  Strengthens in Supporting BF in the Public Sector  Process in domesticating ILO Maternity Convention into Law  Programmes in Support of IYCF  Challenges 2

 National Nutrition Agency  Women’s Bureau  Ministry of Health and social Welfare  Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education  Other Key Players  Gambia Food and Nutrition Association  Gambia Family Planning Association  WEC Mission  BAFROW  CRS  AATG  Partners  UNICEF, WFP, WHO, WB 3

 High Political Support (National Nutrition Council)  National Agency (NaNA) responsible and accountable for nutrition  Conducive Policy Environment (Nutrition, Health, ANR, Gender)  Provision and Enforcement of Breastfeeding Promotion Regulation 2006  Enactment of the Women’s Act 2010 which provide 6 months maternity leave  A Cultural Norm Across all the Ethnicities 4

 Raised Awareness among the General public on the importance and benefits of breastfeeding  Strong community support structures (VSGs, TCs)  Incorporation of IYCF into the curricula of health training institutions  Multi-sectoral National Nutrition Technical Advisory Committee with sub-committees on  MIYCN  Micronutrient  Monitoring and Evaluation  IEC/SBCC 5

 Maternity leave was 12 weeks (6wks before and 6 wks after delivery)  With the enactment of the Women’s Act 2010 maternity leave is now 6 months for all public sector workers and the private sector  In addition annual leaves can be taken 6

 Advocacy with policy and decision makers  National Nutrition Council  National Assembly  National Women’s Council  Public consultation and demand creation  WBW celebration for the whole month of August  Intensive mass media sensitisation  Mainstreaming nutrition and IYCF into sectoral policies and programmes  National Nutrition Policy  National Health Policy  Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy  National Gender Policy

Maternal and Child Nutrition Programme – BFHI – BFCI – Nutrition Surveillance – IMNCI Micronutrient Deficiency Control Programme – Vitamin A Deficiency Control – Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control – Iron Deficiency Anaemia Control Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition – SAM – MAM (TSF &BSF) Non-Communicable Disease Control Programme 8

Nutrition Education Programme School based - NE incorporated into the curriculum of Lower Basic School & Primary Teacher Training Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Materials developed and teachers trained, school health talks ongoing Community based - using Traditional Communicators, entertain and educate approach Mass media TV, Nation, Community and Private Radios Water Sanitation and Hygiene Programme  HIV and IYCF –  Integration of infant feeding into the PMTCT Policy  Routine antibody testing using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is done for all exposed infants at the age of 16 to 18 months. 9

 Sustaining the gains made  Effective enforcement of the Law and Regulations  Coordination  Inadequate capacity of some of the players 10

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION 11