Sierra Leone News

The World Health Organization (WHO) supported the Sierra Leone Roads Transport Authority (SLRTA) to validate the National Road Safety Strategic Plan (2013-2015) in a 2 day multi stakeholders’ workshop held from 13-14 March 2013 in Freetown.  Some of the partners at the meeting included the  Sierra Leone Police, insurance companies, motor drivers’ union and vehicle owners,  health officials and line ministries, the local councils, civil society and partners including WHO among others.

Two staff members from WHO Sierra Leone that participated in a Personal Effectiveness Training Workshop in Brazzaville shared their experiences with their colleagues at the Country Office by replicating the training. Ms Hannah Yankson and Mrs Edith Gray together with staff from other Country Offices attended the workshops from 4 to 7 December 2012 organized by the Staff Devel-opment and Learning Unit at the Regional Office in Brazzaville, Congo.

As of 23 September 2012, the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported by the Ministry of Health were 19,674 and 278 deaths respectively.

The number of daily reported cases of cholera continues to show a downward trend. On 23 September 2012, Western Area continued to report the highest number of cases (77), followed by Kenema (15) and Bombali (8) . No case of death was reported from all the districts. It is noted that case management has improved in most districts.

The ongoing cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone is still on the increase with the Capital City and its suburbs (Western Area) accounting for more than 50% of the reported cases and about 34% of the deaths nationally. Kailahun remains the only district in the country without a confirmed cholera case. Active surveillance and social mobilisation activities are however underway in that district to prevent spread of the disease in case of an outbreak there.

The number of cholera cases in Sierra Leone has increased to 12,456 with 224 deaths as of August 22. The case fatality rate remains at 1,8%. Western Area reported the highest number of cases 198 and 2 deaths.

Cholera situation in Sierra Leone - 23August 2012

For More Information contact:

World Health Organization, 21 A and B Riverside Drive, off King Harman Road, Freetown

Phone : 232-22-233565 , +232-76-77787

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) conducted policy dialogue on the first National Human Resources for Health (HRH) Policy and Strategic Plan (2012-2016) at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown on 17 July 2012.
The event was opened by the Hon. Minister of health and Sanitation, Mrs Zainab Bangura. The participants included representatives of health partners, officials of line ministries and top civil servants.

Freetown, Sierra Leone, 11 July 2014 - The Kailahun District Health Management Team in collaboration with WHO, Red Cross, MSF, Metabiota and other partners has trained the last batch of 300 community volunteers in the district. The volunteers comprised of community health workers and Red Cross Volunteers selected across the communities in the 14 chiefdoms in Kailahun  District.

The volunteers were trained to identify and monitor Ebola signs and symptoms in persons that have had “contact” with Ebola patients.

The Minister of Health and Sanitation Madam Miata Kargbo has briefed partners about the Ebola Situation in Sierra Leo- ne and the preparations for any outbreak. She explained about national task force and technical commitees on coor- dination, case management, communications, laboratory and surveillance.

During the briefing meeting the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Brima Kargbo explained that Sierra Leone does not have any suspected or confirm case of Ebola. Further- more he briefed about the stepping up of surveillance and efforts to calm the public.

Sierra Leone commemorated World No Tobacco Day 2013 on 31 May 2013 on the theme: “Ban Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship”. The Day is commemorated every year in Sierra Leone and countries around the world as opportunity for health authorities to inform all sectors of their populations of the dangers particularly the devastating health consequences associated with the use of tobacco products. The theme for this year’s commemoration is a call on countries to put a stop to all forms of promotion of tobacco.

In this Issue

1. Development of Sierra Leone 2013 Health Sector Annual Operational Plan
2. Sierra Leone develops Human Resource for Health Policy and Strategic Plan

Sierra Leone Newsletter: November-December 2012