The Governor of North Bank Region, Edward Seckan on Monday launched a ten-day mini-birth registration campaign in Kerewan, North Bank Region.
The exercise, which targets children under-5 years of age, is being sponsored by UNICEF-Gambia office.
Delivering his launching statement at the occasion, Governor Seckan said the government of The Gambia has since independence keen concern and interest in the citizens and their welfare. He stated that government has over the years formulated laws, regulations and enhanced conducive environment for the general protection and welfare of the citizenry.
"According to the constitution of The Gambia, one becomes citizen by birth, descent, marriage and naturalisation," he said, noting that with this development, birth registration becomes the premier among the ranks of citizenship.
He added that for easy access and affordability, the government has over the years made significant efforts to decentralise service deliveries through its decentralisation concept as enshrined in the Local Government Act.
He pointed out that birth certificate is the foundation of all national documents. Governor Seckan also stated that currently birth registration is being decentralised and integrated into reproductive and child services for easy access and affordability.
He urged the communities to register all the under 5 children, noting that the registration is free of charge.
For his part, Lamin Fatty, the Deputy Registrar Birth and Death at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said birth registration was decentralised in 2004, with a view to improving access to the service.
"Thus, it becomes more cost effective for the general public as travelling cost to and from the central level is greatly reduced," Fatty stated.