Sierra Leone News

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.

Dr Keiji Fukuda, the Assistant Director General (ADG) for Health Security from the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva arrived in Sierra Leone on 8 July 2014. The visit was part of WHO’s continued engagement with the government and partners in ending the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the country. Dr Fukuda’s visit was also to reaffirm the Organization’s  continued commitment in coordinating and facilitating a speedy end of the outbreak.

Background

Micronutrient deficiencies are a common public health challenge affecting all age groups in developing countries. It may lead to adverse health consequences as well as infant and maternal mortality.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) in collaboration with WHO and other partners held a one day meeting on 24 January to disseminate the National Standards for Adolescent and Young People Friendly Health Services. The standard was developed by the Directorate of Reproductive and Child Health with technical and financial assistance from WHO. The Stand-ards elaborates the key elements of quality services that are essential and that should be available, accessible and affordable to adolescents and young people in health service delivery points in the country.

The World Health Organization donated various items including, information and communication technology and medical equipment, reagents and consumables as well as other supplies worth more than US $159,000 to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation on 17 May 2013. The items included Interagency Diarrhoeal Disease Kits, 24 sets of desktop and laptop computers and accessories, Elisa Plate Reader, Tapes for Autoclave, broad spectrum of Kits for cholera control, 1 Toyota Hard Top, 1 motor bike, 2 Desktop OptiPlex Computers, Inter core among others.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) has started adaptation of the generic WHO Disease Outbreak Communication Training Handbook to strengthen outbreak communication in the country. The process com-menced with review of the document to decide on the changes that need to be introduced to customize it to the Sierra Leonean context. The purpose of the handbook is to guide users to design and carry out communication and social mobilisation activities to create awareness, promote behaviour change to prevent and control disease outbreaks. 

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) validated its central and districts level 2013 annual operational plans in Freetown from 8-9 November 2012. The plans were validated in a 2 day workshop held for the health sector partners including the MoHS national level officials, District Health Management Teams, the local councils authorities and development partners including the UN, donor and Non-Governmental Organizations to contribute in the finalization of the plans that will guide operations of the sector.

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.

As of 2 September 2012, the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation were 15,564 and 249 deaths respectively. Twelve (12) of the 13 districts in the country are now affected. On 2 September 2012, Western Area continued to report the highest number of cases (187), followed by Bombali (16), Tonkolili (12) and Kenema (11). No death was reported from all the districts. It is noted that case management has improved in most districts.