Sierra Leone News

Sierra Leone commemorated World Health Day (WHD) together with other WHO member states on 7 April on the theme: Ageing and Health, with the slogan: Good Health Adds Life to Years. Activities to mark the occasion included a 5 Kilometre walk along the Lumley-Aberdeen beach. The walk was facilitated by the Ministry of Health & Sanitation (MoHS) and WHO. It drew participants from different groups including sport clubs, UN agencies, NGOs, government departments and the general public.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) conducted a stakeholders’ consultative meeting from 8-9 May 2012. The purpose of the meeting was to seek stakeholders input, build consensus and develop a road map in finalizing the draft National Human Resources for Health (HRH) Policy and Strategic Plan for Sierra Leone.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kisito Daoh, in his opening statement said that the meeting should serve as an opportunity for stakeholders to make inputs into the documents which will inform & advise the Ministry in addressing HRH challenges.

Sierra Leone joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Malaria Day today 25 April 2012 on the theme “Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in malaria”. A local slogan: “Mosquito Net!! Malaria Free. Sound Sleep” was also chosen by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) to raise awareness on malaria prevention and control in the country. In a nation-wide broadcast the Minister of Health and Sanitation Hon Zainab Bangura, officially announced free treatment for confirmed malaria cases for all age groups in the country at government health facilities.

A team of senior officials from the directorate of Post Graduate Training, Non-communicable Diseases and Research in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, on Thursday 29 March paid a courtesy call on the WHO Representative, Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu. The purpose of the visit was to update Dr Alemu on the on-going support for the introduction of local post graduate training and Continuing Professional Development that WHO is supporting. The team was led by Dr Donald Bash Taqi, director of the programme.

WHO Country Office in Sierra Leone held a consultative meeting to discuss the 2012-2013 biennial work plan (BWP) with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) on 28 July 2011. The biennial work plan is prepared based on the National Health Sector Strategic Plan (NHSSP), the Agenda For Change (PRSP-2), the Country Cooperation Strategy, 2008-2013, the WHO African Region Strategic Direction and other global health priorities.

Sierra Leone launched the first African Vaccination Week (AVW) on 23rd May to strengthen national immunization programmes and improve knowledge among parents and caregivers about the need to vaccinate their children against vaccine preventable diseases.

The Week was launched by the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Mrs Sia Nyama Koroma in Freetown in a colourful ceremony in the presence of government functionaries, UN agencies, other development partners, health workers, the civil society and the gen-eral public.

Freetown, 31 July 2014 - His Excellency President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone made a visit to the Ebola Emergency Operational Centre (EOC) work station at the World Health Organization Country Office in Sierra Leone on 31 July 2014. The President made the visit to assess readiness of the EOC which is the leading Coordination Structure in the Ebola outbreak response in Sierra Leone. Membership of the EOC comprised of heads of strategic local and international development agencies including the United Nations agencies, MSF, and other partners.

Freetown, 1 August 2014 - The WHO Country Office in Sierra Leone on 1 August 2014 donated a consignment of assorted items worth US$38,000 to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. The donation is part of WHO’s continued support to the government of Sierra Leone in the Ebola outbreak response. The various items included 3,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to protect health workers particularly those that are directly involved in the management of cases in the treatment centres, the ambulance and burial teams. 

Freetown, 9 August 2014 – The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, on Saturday, visited the Ebola Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at the WHO Country Office in Sierra Leone. This is the second visit of the President in 10 days. He made true his promise during his first visit on 31 July that he would be following up on the emergency response activities of the EOC.

Freetown, 11 August 2014 – President Ernest Bai Koroma made his third visit to the Ebola Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at the WHO Country Office in Freetown today 11 August. The President last visited the Centre on Saturday 9 August. In today’s visit the President participated in the daily meeting where he received briefing by the Minister of Health and Sanitation Ms Miatta Kargbo and the EOC body on the decisions, required actions and measures agreed upon by the EOC members as well as progress and challenges in the response.