By Haddy Touray
The Gambia has validated and adopted its first National Dementia Plan for 2027–2031, becoming the first country in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region to adopt a dedicated national plan of this kind.
The plan aims to strengthen dementia prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, care and support for affected individuals and their families, according to a WHO press release.
Led by the Ministry of Health’s National Mental Health Programme, the plan received financial and technical support from the WHO Country Office in The Gambia, its Regional Office for Africa and headquarters.
It was validated and adopted at a stakeholder workshop held on Sept. 28–29, 2026, bringing together government representatives, health professionals, development partners, civil society organizations, academics and other stakeholders.
Dementia is a growing public health challenge, affecting an estimated 57 million people worldwide. Modelled estimates indicate that between 3,800 and 4,000 people in The Gambia are living with dementia, a figure projected to rise to nearly 13,000 by 2050.
Dementia affects memory, thinking and the ability to perform everyday activities. However, its symptoms are sometimes mistaken for normal ageing, delaying diagnosis and access to appropriate care. Stigma and misconceptions can also isolate affected individuals and increase the burden on families and caregivers.
The new plan establishes a national framework for raising public awareness, reducing risk factors, improving early detection and diagnosis, and expanding treatment, care and support services.
It also prioritises strengthening the health workforce, improving health information and research, supporting caregivers, and establishing mechanisms for coordination, accountability and monitoring.
According to WHO, the plan incorporates the seven action areas of its Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia within four national priorities.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Lamin Dampha said the initiative would integrate dementia into the government’s broader mental health agenda, building on the Mental Health Policy 2025–2035, the Mental Health Investment Case and the Mental Health Bill awaiting passage into law.
He called for a coordinated, government-wide effort to ensure effective implementation.
“A national plan, however well written, means nothing if it becomes another document that gathers dust on a shelf,” Dampha said.
Speaking on behalf of the WHO Representative to The Gambia, Dr D’Almeida Selassi Amah stressed that the plan’s success would depend on its impact on people living with dementia and their families.
“The true value of this document will not be measured by its adoption alone, but by its ability to improve the lives of people living with dementia and those who care for them,” he said.
Jarra Marega, Programme Manager of the National Mental Health Programme and national technical lead for the plan’s development, said many people living with dementia in The Gambia remained undiagnosed or unsupported.
“This plan gives us a framework to strengthen awareness, improve early identification and bring care closer to communities, so that families do not have to face dementia alone,” she said.
Across the WHO African Region, dementia remains an under-recognised public health concern, with limited awareness, stigma, gaps in diagnosis and shortages of specialised services restricting access to timely support.
Family members frequently provide care, often with limited access to information, training and psychosocial assistance.
WHO said The Gambia’s adoption of a dedicated national plan could help strengthen coordination between health services, mental health programmes, noncommunicable disease initiatives, disability services, social protection and healthy ageing programmes.
The organisation emphasised that implementation would require sustained government leadership, adequate funding, intersectoral collaboration and continued community engagement.
Health workers would need appropriate training to recognise dementia, support diagnosis and provide compassionate care, while public awareness campaigns would be essential to challenge stigma and improve understanding. Caregivers would also need access to reliable information, counselling and community-based support.
WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting The Gambia through technical assistance, policy guidance, capacity-building, advocacy and partnership development.
The national plan aligns with the WHO Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia, adopted in 2017 and extended by the World Health Assembly in 2025.
Its implementation through 2031 is expected to provide a framework for improving early recognition, access to care and support for caregivers, while promoting the dignity and well-being of people living with dementia.