Among those the conference halls have been named the include late Dr. Omar M. Touray for his services to the establishment of the agency office and for being the first vice chairperson from 2006-2016; Modou Cheyassin Phall, who served as the second executive director of the agency from 2006-2021; and Isatou Jallow, who was the leading staff pioneer in the establishment of the agency and the first executive director from 2000-2006.
At a ceremony held at the agency’s grounds, Dr. Bah expressed delight and appreciation to senior and present staff for their immense contribution to the continued success of the agency.
In a speech and tribute to the old staff, Dr. Bah explained that it was a pleasure for him to witness such an event in the history of the agency while adding that the long history started with a humble background where they were a single room office of almost eight people with four chairs.
“I can humbly see that NaNA has transcended from being a team to a family. There were people who stood by us even though it was tough and some had no confidence but we are able to register gains.”
He continued that nutrition has been a challenge in the country and there are people with foresight for nutrition and took it upon themselves to reach this level. He added that they have made so much progress in the nutrition indicators and some of their colleagues in the sub-region are asking how the Gambia is able to do it.
“We have managed to continue doing and reduce some of the most difficult nutrition indicators in the world.”
Modou Cheyassin Phall, who gave a citation on Mrs. Isatou Jallow, stated that the tipping point of nutrition in the country was brought in with the coming of Isatou. He added that by the time she came to the agency, they were not really grilled in the field of nutrition.
“She came and put nutrition at the centre of development when it was difficult to convince developmental experts and funders that nutrition is key to socio-economic development both as an input and output.”
Phall reiterated that Mrs. Jallow first realised she could not do it alone and asked them not to be discouraged while building their capacities. He also paid tribute to Mr. Touray while describing him as one of the finest brains the country has ever produced.
Mrs. Jallow in her words, expressed gratitude to her fellow colleagues, admitting that she could have not done it without the team who had been so supportive in moving nutrition from the sidelines to centre stage.
