PILOT PROJECT FOR DEVELOPING A NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GHS IN THE GAMBIA

PRESENTED BY Mr. MOMODOU CANTEH, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, NEA

BACKGROUND THE GAMBIA

- LARGE PROPORTION OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR - COMMERCIAL AND SUBSISTENCE PRODUCTION - CROP AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND FISHERIES CHARACTERIZE THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR - THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR IS CLASSIFIED INTO FORMAL AND NON-FORMAL MANUFACTURING, BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND TOURISM.

-PRODUCTION OF CHEMICALS IN THE GAMBIA IS MINIMAL -HOWEVER, IT IMPORTS A LARGE QUANTITY OF CHEMICALS(AGRICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL, CONSUMER, ETC) TO MEET THE CHALLENGES

-PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ARE IMPORTED - COUNTRY DEPENDS VERY HEAVILY ON CHEMICALS TO ENHANCE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY.

- CHEMICALS EQUALLY HEAVILY USED IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SECTOR TO CONTROL ARTHROPOD VECTORS OF HUMAN DISEASES.

NATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL GHS IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

-THE GAMBIA RECOGNISES THE IMPORTANCE OF CHEMICAL HAZARD COMMUNICATION AS A KEY TOOL FOR PROTECTING HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. - SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT

- WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF MOA THE GAMBIA WILL PREPARE GROUND FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF GHS BY GHS WILL THUS: -CONTRIBUTE TO PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT FROM DANGEROUS CHEMICALS, AND FACILITATE TRADE IN CHEMICALS BETWEEN COUNTRIES.

KEY PROJECT PHASES AND ACTIVITIES FOUR MAJOR PHASES: 1. NATIONAL PLANNING AND COORDINATION. 2. PLANNING FOR PHASE PREPARATION OF A GHS SITUATION AND GAP ANALYSIS 2.2 COMPREHENSIBILITY TESTING

4. DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR NATIONAL GHS IMPLEMENTATION BY NATIONAL REVIEW WORKSHOP

3. TARGETED GHS CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT 3.1 GHS TRAINING WORKSHOP 3.2 DEVELOPMENT OF A DRAFT LEGISLATION FOR GHS IMPLEMENTATION. 3.3 CAPACITY BUILDING AND STRATEGY 3.4 DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY CAPACITY BUILDING AND STRATEGY 3.5 DEVELOPMENT FOR CIVIL SOCIETY CAPACITY BUILDING AND STRATEGY NATIONAL

1.NATIONAL PLANNING AND COORDINATION. - PRESENCE OF A MULTI- SECTORAL ENFORCEMENT OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND BOARD FOR PESTICIDES CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT ACT HAS ENHANCED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL COORDINATION STRUCTURE

- STAKEHOLDERS CONTACTED TO CONSTITUTE THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GHS.

STRUCTURE STRUCTURE PIU – PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNITY PCC – PROJECT COORDINATION COMMITTEE STAKEHOLDERS

THE NATIONAL GHS COMMITTEE NOW COMPRISES ORGANISATIONS THAT DIRECTLY DEAL WITH EACH OF THE FOUR SECTORS OF TRANSPORT, INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER CHEMICALS:

 National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI)  - NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY(NADA) - DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR THE INTERIOR - THE GAMBIA RED CROSS - THE GAMBIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY - THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT - FIRE AND AMBULANCE SERVICES

- ATTORNEY GENERALS CHAMBERS - NATIONAL TRANSPORT CONTROL ASSOCIATION - THE ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS - STANDARDS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION BOARD - THE GAMBIA WORKERS CONFEDERATION - AGRICULTURAL WORKERS ASSOCIATION

2. PLANNING FOR PHASE NATIONAL GHS SITUATION AND GAP ANALYSIS

THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT (ENACTED IN 1994) PROVIDES BOTH REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE GAMBIA. IN THE SAME YEAR, THE HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND PESTICIDES CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT ACT WAS ENACTED AND A BOARD ESTABLISHED.

ENFORCEMENT THE BOARD HAS THROUGH NEA ESTABLISHED AN INSPECTORATE SUPPORTED BY A NETWORK OF DESIGNATED INSPECTORS FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF PESTICIDE LAWS. DESIGNATED INSPECTORS ARE APPOINTED FROM COLLABORATING DEPARTMENTS

SITUATION ANALYSIS NATIONAL PROFILE TO ASSESS THE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO MANAGE CHEMICALS IN 1997 IN 1999, THE GAMBIA DISPOSED OF ITS OBSOLETE PESTICIDES BY SHIPMENT TO THE UK

GAP ANALYSIS THE ABSENCE OF A FULLY OPERATIONAL POISON RECORD CENTRES AND INSUFFICIENT GOVERNMENT STAFF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT LEGAL AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF GHS.

COMPREHENSIBILITY TESTING (CT) LABEL, WARNING, OR SAFETY DATA SHEET TO ADEQUATELY UNDERSTAND THE INFORMATION ENOUGH TO TAKE THE APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

3.Project Phase 2:Targeted GHS Capacity Development 3. TARGETED GHS CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT 3.1 NATIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL GHS IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY FOR CIVIL SOCIETY

MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE WORKSHOP WAS TO ENABLE CIVIL SOCIETY IDENTIFY CAPACITY BUILDING INTERVENTIONS NEEDED IN PROTECTING HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT FROM CHEMICAL HAZARDS.

3.2 DEVELOPMENT OF A DRAFT LEGISLATION FOR GHS IMPLEMENTATION - PCC HIRED THE SERVICES OF A LEGAL CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP GHS IMPLEMENTATION REGULATION - FIRST DRAFT SUBMITTED, REVIEWED AND VALIDATED.

REGULATIONS RECOMMENDED FOR INCORPORATION INTO EXISTING HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND PESTICIDES CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS.

CIVIL SOCIETY AND INDUSTRIAL WORKSHOP THE GAMBIA WORKERS CONFEDERATION AND NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY (NEA) WITH SUPPORT FROM THE UNITAR/ILO GLOBAL GHS CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SWITZERLAND, SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTED A NATIONAL WORKSHOP FOR CIVIL SOCIETY.

LOBBY AND AWARENESS CREATION IN INDUSTRIES MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO EQUIP THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR WITH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF GHS PRINCIPLES

THE TEAM WAS ABLE TO COVER THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, VISITING A TOTAL OF 34 INDUSTRIAL SITES AND A TOTAL NUMBER OF ABOUT 700 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING PROPRIETORS, MANAGERS AND INDUSTRIAL WORKERS.

ACTION PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF GHS THE “ROAD MAP” DESIGNED AT THE CIVIL SOCIETY WORKSHOP WAS FURTHER DEVELOPED BY A TASK TEAM AND PRESENTED AS A NATIONAL DOCUMENT DEVELOPED FOR EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF GHS REGULATIONS FROM 2008 – 2010.

A NATIONAL PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK ON GHS FOR

No. ACTIVITY OBJECTIVE(S)OUTPUTRESPOSIBI LITY BUDGE T (US$) 1 TRAINING - Training needs assessme nt - Training proper - Field monitorin g and Evaluation of trainees - To conduct in-service course for Inspectors on GHS - Number of designated inspectors – Phytosanita ry, Customs, Health, etc. trained NEA, NADA (National Agricultura l Developme nt Agency), Customs 180, To train more Stakeholders on GHS - Number of stakeholder s trained NEA, NADA, Civil Society, Police - To train Popular Theatre Groups to act and formulate songs on GHS - Drama and songs made on GHS NEA, NADA, Civil Society, Police, ACD

No. ACTIVITY OBJECTIVE(S)OUTPUTRESPOSIB ILITY BUDGE T (US$) 2.INFORMATI ON, EDUCATION & COMMUNIC ATION (IEC) - Sensitisatio n, - Awareness campaigns - Monitoring and Evaluation - Mass sensitization of Stakeholders from the four categories - Industry, Agriculture, Transport and Consumers on GHS, using:- National Radio and Television, - Community and Private Radios, - Print media (Posters, banners,T-shirts, etc.) - Number of stakehold ers sensitized on GHS - Number of TV Radio notices/ shots made - Number of print media produced NEA, NADA, Civil Society, Police, ACD (Agricultur al Communic ation Division) 180, 000

No. No. ACTIVITY OBJECTIVE(S)OUTPUTRESPOSIBI LITY BUDGET (US$) 3.3. LEGISLATION - Enforcement of GHS regulations; -Monitoring and Evaluation -T o strengthen legal requirements on Licensing and Registration -To improve legal framework for the implementation of GHS - Licensing and Registrati on improved Attorney General’s Chambers, NEA, NADA 22, STRENGTHEN ING EXISTING LABORATOR Y -To build the capacity of lab assistants - To equip the lab -Five Lab assistants trained - Facilities provided for running the lab NEA200, 000 TOTAL 582,500

NEGOTIATED RESOLUTIONS Complementary to the strategic plan are the Resolutions, which have been during the process negotiated and endorsed through larger stakeholder consultations. The Resolutions have been also presented at the National Review Workshop for endorsement.

NATIONAL REVIEW WORKSHOP The workshop was attended by a fair representation of governmental, nongovernmental organizations, and Civil Society/ labour groups.