By Kumba Leigh & Adam Colley
The National Social Protection Secretariat and the Department of Information Services last week consulted the Banjul City Council to discuss with councilors the merit and significance of the upcoming social registry data collection exercise in Banjul and KM. The rationale for consulting the council was for the councilors, as representatives of the people to sensitise their respective constituents about the data collection exercise and to solicit their cooperation.
The National Social Protection Secretariat under the Office of Vice President is implementing The Gambia Social Registry.
The Department of Information Services, assigned to lead the Public Information Campaign on the GamSR, has launched an awareness campaign in the Greater Banjul Area.
The department together with partners recently engaged the Banjul City Council in a day-long discussion with councilors about the GamSR, as part of their Public Information Campaign.
Deputy Mayor Aziz Dabakh Gaye, deputising for the Mayor at the event, hailed the National Social Protection Secretariat and the Department of Information Services for orientating the councilors. This, he said would allow them to further disseminate and sensitise their respective wards about the impending data collection by GBoS.
The Deputy Mayor also lauded the National Social Protection Secretariat for including the residents of Banjul in the social registry, which he noted will enable quick and efficient means for Banjulians to access social benefits.
“As people’s representatives we must ensure that every household is included in national social protection initiatives,” he advised the councilors.
He said the Registry serves as the foundation for identifying and supporting the most vulnerable members of the society, and that the data collected will inform critical decisions that affect the well-being of the people.
“Banjul, as the heart of The Gambia, must be at the forefront of ensuring that no household is left behind in our national social protection efforts. We know that the challenges facing our communities are real—ranging from poverty to health vulnerabilities—and this data collection exercise is a key step towards addressing those challenges in a coordinated and efficient manner,” Deputy Mayor highlighted.
He noted that the Public Information Campaign is not only about sensitisation of the public, but also about fostering collaboration, participation and support of councillors, Alkalolu, community leaders, women’s groups among others, to encourage residents to actively take part in the registration exercise.
The Coordinator of the Public Information Campaign on GamSR, Ebrima A. Njie, said they have partnered with key institutions such as Community Development (CD) and the National Nutrition Agency (NANa) for a comprehensive outreach to communities, to persuade them to participate in the national data collection process.
Dilating on the significance of the registration and data collection, Mr Njie said the data collection is different from any other data collection process. He said the database will form a Social Registry as part of The Gambia Government’s move towards an integrated social protection system in the country.
