The national multi-sectoral platform for tobacco control is not resting on its laurels since enactment and official launch of Gambia’s first ever comprehensive Tobacco Control Act 2016. It has just launched an aggressive nationwide stakeholder sensitization and engagement to smoothen the way to implementation. Funds for this activity have been mobilized through a local NGO, which is an active member of the multi-sectoral platform. A small technical team, comprising WCO-Gambia, the NCD team in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other members of the mult-sectoral platform, is constituted to implement this task.

The exercise, which started sometime ago, is expected to last for a couple of weeks. Over 500 “strategic” stakeholders/partners (policy makers, law enforcement officers, district authorities, public and private enterprises, civil society and community/influential leaders) are targeted for this campaign. So far, over 100 security officers and 50 civil society groups have been engaged.

It will be worth noting that WHO’s leadership in and contributions to tobacco control in the Gambia is well established. In the recent past the Organization has been providing consistent technical support and guidance to The Gambia which has resulted in the following milestones:

• Ratification by the Gambia of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in September 2016.
• Enactment, followed by an official launch, of the National Tobacco Control Act 2016.
• Development of a road map and the relevant regulations (in the process of being finalized) to facilitate implementation of the Act.
• Stakeholder engagement and sensitization including the Trade Ministry and other critical arms of Government, on international trade and investment law.