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 Government of The Gambia 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. 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, Saint Vinci de Paul.  In addition, Free Residential care services are available for destitute elderly persons. However, it should be noted that residential and geriatric care is optional for them. The Government also offers financial support to home base care services channeled through the Department of Social Welfare.  Furthermore, the elderly also receive some free health care services, such as free noncommunicable disease screening and they also receive 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.  Other programs aimed at the promotion and protection of the elderly, include, programs to reduce the malnutrition rate among the elderly and sensitization and awareness programs on the welfare of elderly persons.  There is also ongoing consultation between the Government and various stakeholders for the review of the Pensions Act, 1950 and Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation Act, to reform the existing law regarding Pensions and Social Security Funds. Among the beneficiaries of pensions and social security funds are the elderly who have retired from active employment by virtue of their age. It is intended that the reforms in these legislations will provide better retirement benefits and make access to these funds more accessible and less bureaucratic.  It should also be noted that, The Gambia has closely knit family settings. The majority of people live in an extended family setting, thus the elderly are most often in the cared for by their family members. D. Protection of the Disabled Section 31 of the Constitution on the Rights of the Disabled provides that “the right of the disabled and handicapped to respect and human dignity shall be recognised by the State and society. That the 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 99