by Sheikh Alkinky Sanyang, Daily Observer

The Gambia is preparing its first national document of the National Implementation Plant, (NIP) for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) from specific action plans.

The Gambia signed and ratified the convention on POPs in May 2001 and June 2003, respectively. The aim of the Convention is to control the use of POPs, with a view of phasing them out.

POPs are a group of chemicals that pose serious risks to human health and the environment. They are highly persistent and can therefore travel through the food chain to long distances from their sources of production. They are also transported through air, water and migratory species across international boundaries and deposited in far places where they accumulate in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

According to Momodou S Kanteh, Director of Technical Service Network at the National Environment Agency (NEA), who is also the NIP coordinator, exposure to POPs chemicals may result in many health implications, including birth defects, cancer, immunological and reproductive disorders and diminishing intelligence.

“The most familiar POPs used, or in use in The Gambia are Aldrin, Dieldrin, diphenyl - dichloro-trichlolo ethane (DDT) and poly chlorinated biphenyl (PCBs). Aldrin, Dieldrin and DDT are insecticides widely used in this country, either in termite control, fight against insects, against crop pests or in vector control. PCBs are still in use as oil in electricity transformers.” Mr Kanteh told stakeholders and participants at a two-day validation of The Gambia’s first draft national document of POPs at the Atlantic Hotel in Banjul, recently.

Mr Kanteh added that there are yet some unintentionally produced POPs, such as dioxins and furans produced from improper burning. He described such kinds of POPs as very common and equally dangerous to human health and the environment. Signatories to the Stockholm Convention are obliged to prepare and implement a phaseout plan of action for POPs and the implementation plan will outline all aspects of POPs management. Therefore, POPs management programme must include general sensitisation mechanisms and strategies to dispose of waste.

The NIP is a Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project being executed by the United Nations Environment Programme, (UNEP) and implemented by NEA on behalf of The Gambia Government. The overall objective of the project is to develop a national framework for the protection of human health and the environment from the negative effects of POPs through the following:

a) Preparation for implementation of the convention in The Gambia.

b) Assist The Gambia to meet her reporting and other national obligations under the convention.

c) Strengthen national capacity for the effective and sound management of chemicals in general and POPs in particular.

To facilitate successful project implementation, the participation of all stakeholders in the management of POPs was found essential and a workshop was organised to map out strategies of implementation and identify roles and responsibilities for different stakeholders.

The preparation of the NIP entails five phases.

Phase 1: Determination of coordination mechanisms and organisation process. This includes the establishment of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) and a technical coordinating body called the Project Coordination Unit (PCU). The NCC comprises of institutions of both public and private that are involved in PoPs management in The Gambia.

Phase 2: Establishment of a PoPs inventory and assessment of infrastructure. Five multi-disciplinary task teams were established in the areas of updating of the national profile developed in 1997, PoPs pesticides, including DDT, PCBs, unintentionally produced PoPs and information dissemination.

Phase 3: International consultants were hired to assist with PCB inventory, the DDT alternative assessment and the inventory of dioxins and furans. The inventory indicates that the principal source of releases of dioxins and furans in The Gambia are dumpsite fire, open burning of domestic and other wastes in streets and road sides, forest and bushfires, burning of agricultural residues, and the use of biomass for cooking.

Phase 4: Activities under this phase include a review of phase 3 activities, identification, prioritisation and development of objectives concerning PoPs issues, socio-economic analysis of PoP management and control and impacts of alternatives. Report in each case study on PoP pesticides, PCBs, unintentionally produced PoPs and the establishment of a POP information system has been reviewed and presented to NCC for validation.

Phase 5: A training workshop was sponsored by the United Nations to develop national capacity and skills in developing appropriate action plans to control or phase out PoPs. Based on objectives prepared under the fourth phase, consultants were recruited to prepare action plans and strategies on PoP pesticides, PCBs, and on unintentionally produced PoPs.