Sierra Leone News

Sierra Leone celebrated an important milestone on Monday, 24 August 2015. For the first time in more than a year, there are no people being treated for Ebola virus disease and no confirmed cases of Ebola in the country.

A Nigerian mobile lab has been operating in Sierra Leone as part of the international effort to help test Ebola samples in the current outbreak. The lab saves critical hours by testing the samples rapidly and reducing the need to transport samples over long distances. The lab plans to return to Nigeria to work on Lassa fever when the Ebola outbreak is over.

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

Sierra Leone commemorated World AIDS Day on 1 December 2012 on the theme Getting to zero new HIV Infection, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Death by 2015.

The national trend of the cholera situation in Sierra Leone continues to show a decline. Cases in the Western Area, which accounts for the highest number, are also on the decrease.

As of 20 September 2012, the update released by the Min-istry of Health and Sanitation on the outbreak reported 19,283 cases and 276 deaths with a case fatality rate of 1.4%. The Western Area reported the highest number of cases followed by Tonkolilli, Kenema and Bombali dis-tricts as shown in the table above. Kailahun remained the only district without a confirmed case.

In Sierra Leone, the situation with the current cholera outbreak is still critical. As of September 3, 2012, a cumulative of 15,838 cases with 251 deaths giving a case fatality Rate of 1.6% was reported by the Directorate of Disease Prevention and Control.

According to daily reports, district that reported the highest number of cases include: Western Area (169), Bombali (18) and Kenema (18). There is improvement in data collection from all districts. In the Western Area over 79% of facilities report daily.

In Sierra Leone, the situation with the current cholera outbreak remained critical. As of August 16, 2012, 10,905 cases with 184 deaths with a Case Fatality Rate of 1.7 was reported by the Directorate of Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. While data collection and verification have improved particularly in Western Area, there is need to heighten vigilance in those districts not yet affected by cholera for early detection and prompt action.