by Halimatou Jallow
The Ministry of Health, through its National Mental Health Programme, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to replacing The Gambia’s outdated mental health legislation with a modern, rights-based legal framework.
The commitment was reiterated during a high-level stakeholder workshop on mental health legislative reform held on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, with support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The workshop brought together Members of the National Assembly, officials from the Ministries of Health and Justice, representatives of Africa CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO), development partners, civil society organisations, mental health professionals, and delegates from several African countries to discuss strategies for accelerating the country’s mental health reform agenda.
Representing the Minister of Health, Director of Health Services Momodou Nyassi reaffirmed the Government’s resolve to enact a modern Mental Health Act that protects the rights and dignity of people living with mental health conditions, promotes access to quality community-based care, and establishes a clear framework for governance and accountability within the mental health system.
He said the workshop provided an important platform to review the draft Mental Health Bill, gather stakeholder input, and agree on practical next steps toward Cabinet approval and eventual enactment by the National Assembly.
Nyassi further reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working closely with Parliament, the Ministry of Justice, Africa CDC, WHO, civil society organisations and other partners to ensure the Bill becomes law.
Opening the workshop, officials from the National Mental Health Programme highlighted The Gambia’s progress in reforming mental health services despite the continued existence of the Lunatics Detention Act of 1917, a colonial-era law centred on the institutionalisation of people living with mental health conditions. They noted that the legislation no longer reflects contemporary public health practices or international human rights standards.
The Programme outlined key milestones achieved over the past three years, including the development of a new Mental Health Bill with technical support from WHO, Africa CDC, the Ministry of Justice and other stakeholders. It also highlighted the completion of The Gambia’s Mental Health Investment Case, which assesses the country’s mental health burden and demonstrates the economic benefits of investing in mental health services.
Speaking on behalf of Africa CDC, Dr Mohammed Abdul-Aziz, Head of the Division for Non-Communicable Diseases, Injuries and Mental Health, commended The Gambia for advancing legislative reform and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the country throughout the process.
He described mental health as one of Africa’s most neglected public health priorities, noting that between 90 and 98 percent of people who require mental healthcare across many African countries are unable to access services due to limited investment, workforce shortages, weak surveillance systems and outdated legislation.
Dr Abdul-Aziz stressed that mental health should be addressed as a public health priority requiring a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. He also highlighted Africa CDC’s investments in mental health leadership, workforce development, field epidemiology training, advocacy and civil society engagement, noting that Gambian health professionals are already benefiting from several of these initiatives.
Delivering remarks on behalf of WHO, Dr Nathan Bachaita, WHO Representative to The Gambia, praised the Ministry of Health for its leadership in prioritising mental health and acknowledged the progress made since work on the new legislation began in 2014.
He described the proposed Mental Health Bill as a landmark opportunity to establish a modern legal framework that safeguards the dignity and rights of people living with mental health conditions while expanding access to quality, community-based care.
Dr Bachaita emphasised that successful implementation of the new law would require sustained political commitment, adequate financing, a skilled workforce, stronger health services, and continued engagement with communities and people with lived experience.
The workshop concluded with renewed commitments from the Government, Africa CDC, WHO, development partners, legislators and civil society organisations to strengthen collaboration and fast-track the enactment of the Bill. Once passed, the legislation is expected to repeal the Lunatics Detention Act of 1917 and establish a modern, rights-based legal framework that promotes access to quality mental healthcare, protects human rights, and advances The Gambia’s goal of delivering equitable and inclusive healthcare for all.
