Sierra Leone News

The Ministries of Health of Sierra Leone and Guinea conducted a 3 day cross border meeting on cholera and other priority diseases prevention and control, in Makeni Sierra Leone from 31 October to 2 November 2012.

Sierra Leone launched its National Mental Health Policy and Strategic Plan at the commemoration of World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2012. The documents and the commemoration were launched by the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Mrs Sia Nyama Koroma in a function attended by government functionaries and non-state actors including UN agencies and other development partners, mental health advocates, the civil society and the media.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) conducted diarrhoeal diseases, including cholera Case Management Training of Trainers workshop in Freetown from 25-28 September 2012 as part of the scaling up response to cholera outbreak.
The purpose of the intensive training was to build capacity of district supervisors and trainers from all the districts to serve as trainers of health facility staff in their respective districts. This will contribute to strengthening national capacity for clinical management of cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases thus ensuring sustainability.

Sierra Leone launched the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Initiative on 2 October 2012 in Freetown. The event was launched by the Vice President (VP) of the republic, Chief Samuel Sam Sumana on behalf of His Excellency Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. The launch is a demonstration of the high-level commitment of the government and its leadership in the Initiative.

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 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.

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.

A cumulative total of 18,734 cases and 272 deaths have been reported by the Directorate of Disease Prevention and Control in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation as of 17 September, 2012.

On 17 September, 214 cases with one death were reported from the 12 affected districts. Western Area remains the worst affected district with 106 reported cases. The Case Fatality Rate for Western Area is at 1.0% while the attack rate is 0.77%.

In Sierra Leone, the cholera outbreak is ongoing. As of September 11, 2012, a cumulative of 17,538 cases with 261 deaths giving a case fatality Rate of 1.5% 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 (115), Bo (19) and Tonkolili (17). Western Area where the capital city Freetown is located continues to report most of the cholera cases.

As of 10 September 2012, the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation were 17,319 and 259 deaths respectively. Twelve (12) of the 13 districts in the country are now affected.

On 10 September 2012, Western Area continued to report the highest number of cases (140), followed by Bombali (20), Tonkolili (14) and Kambia (13). One death was reported from Kenema district. The national case fatality ratio is now 1.5.