Lawmakers reiterate Commitment to Safe Drinking Water

• Posted by Modou S. Joof on March 12, 2010 at 3:13pm

• View Modou S. Joof's blog

Banjul, The Gambia (TNBES) The National Assembly Member for Kombo North and the Chairman of the National Assembly Select Committee on Health has noted that lawmakers should always make sure that their people have access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation, as well as ensure that children are well protected.

Honorable Adama Cham said it is very important to provide society with these needs, while citing that it their quest to reduce poverty in the country.

Cham was speaking recently at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi during a three-day workshop for the National Assembly Members Sub-Committee to Review and Analyse the 2009 Budget Allocations for Water, Sanitation and Child Protection, organised by PRO-Poor Advocacy Group and funded by UNICEF.


According to Cham access to adequate safe drinking water is a basic human right and an integral part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and government’s development blue print, the Poverty Reduction Strategic Paper.

He noted that the 2009 budget review and analyzing is aimed to look at how much money has been allocated to Water, Sanitation and Child Protection and to see weather these sectors have been adequately or inadequately financed over the year.

“We are also looking at ways or means as to how to improve the budget subvention if it has been realised that there was no adequate budget allocation for these sectors,” he said, adding that The Gambia has a Child
Policy Document intended to protect the rights and wellbeing of the child.

“It is the responsibility of both the government and the parent to see to it that our children are well protected,” he said.

He also argued that his Committee will always make sure that there is adequate budget allocation for the sectors as well as ensuring that the money allocated is put into good use. VOL:2 ISSN:109