Medical and Health

Medical and Health is responsible for providing health care, preventive care and promoting health care.

Medical and health provide or issues these certificates or documents namely;
Birth Certificate
Death Certificates
Vaccination Certificates
Fresh Food Certificates
Lento License

BIRTH CERTIFICATES:
Birth certificates can be acquired by producing clinic card, particulars in the clinic card are entered in the register, and then a birth certificate is provided and signed by the registrar.

LEGALLY:
If a child is born in the Gambia one of the parents must be a Gambian. If that doesn’t imply for example; if both of your parents are Senegalese then you cannot acquire a Gambian Birth Certificate.

BORN OUTSIDE THE GAMBIA:
If a child is born outside the Gambia and his or her parents are Gambians a clinic card, notification of birth or a birth certificate must be produced for the child to be able to have a Gambian birth certificate.

ADULTS:
Adults who don’t have a clinic card have to fill a statutory declaration form for a birth certificate due to late registration.

DEATH CERTIFICATES:
Death certificates are issued due to hospital notification of death and the certificate of cause of death.

LOCALLY:
If somebody dies at home family members are interviewed to know the cause of death. Registration of death certificate can be done in all near by districts because it is decentralized.

FRESH FOOD CERTIFICATES:
There are certain conditions given before issued a food certificate. They are as follows:
Your premises should be hygienic and also in a healthy environment.
You need to have proper safety and healthy working facilities
You need to have proper an adequate water supply.
You need to have a waste collection vehicle.
You have to screen the people working for you if they are not contaminated or infected with any disease.

VACCINATION LICENCSE
The vaccination certificate is given to those traveling abroad. Medical an health are trying to stop it but is difficult at the moment, mostly people wait till the day before they travel and come and request for the vaccination certificate without even taking the vaccination. What they are only interested in is the certificate.

LENTO LICENCSE
Lento license can only be acquired with an alkali’s attestation, which is countersigned by the district chief.

THE GAMBIA POLICE FORCE

The Gambia Police Force issues three types of license namely:

a. National license
b. International license
c. OSSG (Government vehicle license)

VEHICLE LICENSE:
National license is categorized into four groups namely:

a. Private License (Group A)
b. Motor Cycle (Group B)
c. Commercial Vehicle (Group C)
d. Tractor (Group D)

DRIVING LICENSE (GROUP A)
When you want to acquire a provisional driving license you should fill a form with either a birth certificate or an Identity Card, then send it to the principal license officer, then you will be issued a provisional driving license for a period of 3 months. When you receive your license you can attend to any driving school. Licenses are issued to those with 18 years and above. After the provisional period of 3 months you will be going for a medical and driving testing at the police department.

MEDICAL TESTING:
Your eyes are tested at the police medical clinic and if satisfied you are issued a certificate.

DRIVING TESTING:
You will go for a driving test at the police garage. The testing officer is at the police garage and if satisfied he will issue you a testing certificate and based on that competency you are issued a driving license. The fee for the provisional driving license (learners license) is D50.00 and the private license or group A is D300.00.

MOTOR CYCLIST (GROUP B)
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE (GROUP C): They are license to carry four passengers and above. Vehicles like pick-up are license to carry 3 tons and above. The fee for the license is D300.00

FOREIGNERS OR OTHER COUNTRIES NATIONAL:
When you come with your countries national driving license you can use it for three months equivalent to 90 days, then you can get a Gambian license for a fee of D300.00.

INTERNATIONAL DRIVING LICENSE:
You can only acquire an international driving license when you already have a national driving license. When you have an international driving license you can use it worldwide and the fee is D500.00

OSSG:(Government vehicle license):
This license is given to Gambian Government vehicle drivers. The office applies on behalf of the individual. This license is also given to diplomats.

VEHICLE LICENSE:
When you have a vehicle at Gambian Ports Authority and want to take it out from ports. You need to pay certain amount from ports, and then provide that receipt to the custom duties. There is a police officer at ports who is responsible for the checking of vehicles whether it is in the left hand side or right and check whether everything is intact, then he will sign the form which is called form A, The OC of licensing will give the approval of registration of number plates at the old police headquarters, then you are authorized to move out your car from ports and ready for the road