THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA’S COMBINED REPORT ON THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN & PEOPLES’ RIGHTS & INITIAL REPORT ON THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA The Department of Social Welfare has also increased its financial resource allocation to provide welfare services to the elderly. This has resulted to an increase in service delivery to more destitute elderly persons, in spite of the ever growing demands of such services. The Government has also put in place preventive and protection services for the welfare of the elderly person fostering the promotion provision of reciprocal family care for the elderly person. A Family strengthening program to support family and care givers of the elderly person in the form of cash transfer is being provided by the Department of Social Welfare and its partners such as Aging with a Smile, Munazamat Al-dawa Al Islamia, and Saint Vinci de Paul. In addition, Free Residential care services are available for destitute elderly persons. The Government also offers financial support to home base care services through the Department of Social Welfare. Furthermore, the elderly also receive some free health care services, such as free non-communicable disease screening and mobility aids and assistive devices at no cost. However, for services that require fees to be paid, medical bill waivers for health care services are available for the destitute elderly. The review of the Pensions Act, 1950 is currently at an advanced stage to reform the existing law regarding Pensions. It is expected that these reforms will provide better retirement benefits for the elderly. 8.3 Women with disability Section 31 of the Constitution provides that “the right of the disabled and handicapped to human dignity shall be recognized by the State and society”. It provides further that “disabled persons shall be entitled to protection against exploitation and to protection against discrimination, in particular as regards access to health services, education and employment” and “in any judicial proceedings in which a disabled person is a party, the procedure shall take his or her condition into account”. A directive principle of state policy further enjoins the State to pursue policies that protect the rights and freedoms of the disabled and other vulnerable members of society to ensure that such persons are provided just and equitable social opportunities. 167