Sierra Leone News

Freetown 6th June 2014 - The Minister of Health and Sanitation launched another Maternal Child Health Week (MCHW) on the 5th of June 2014 at the Bo Stadium. Speaking at the launch Madam Miata Kargbo said that the week is an opportunity to improve health she encouraged all household to fully participate and thanked partners for their contribution. Furthermore she alerted the audience about the current Ebola outbreak and admonished all to play active role in preventing and controlling the outbreak.

Sierra Leone launched its first National Road Safety Policy, Strategic Plan and Trust Fund on 23 November 2013 in Freetown. The documents and the Trust Fund were launched by the Minister of Information and Communications Mr Alpha Kanu, on behalf of the President of the Republic. Delivering the statement of the President, Mr Kanu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the full implementation of the Decade of Action for Road Safety and assured to “give serious consideration to proposals that will enhance the implementation of the National Strategy to achieve the desired goals”.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) launched the first Integrated National Waste Management Policy and Strategy, and an Integrated Vector Management Strategic Plan on 12 April 2012. The occasion was also used to distribute the Country Report of the Situation Analysis and Needs As-sessment on Health and Environment. The documents were launched by Dr Abu Bakarr Fofanah, Deputy Minister-1 of MoHS.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) launched four pharmaceutical policy documents on 14 December 2012 in Freetown. The documents included the National Medicines Policy, National Essential Medicines List, Standard Treatment Guidelines for Primary Level Prescribers and a National Formulary. The policy documents were launched by Dr Alhassan Seisay, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry on behalf of the Acting Minister of Health. Participants at the event included officials of the MoHS, WHO, the Pharmaceutical Society, civil society and Non-Governmental Organizations.

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.

The cholera situation in Sierra Leone has still on the rise. Cumulatively, the districts are reporting over two hun-dred cases per day. Majority of the cases are occurring in the Western Area (urban and suburban communities of the Capital, Freetown) where the outbreak was first confirmed in June 2012.

Cholera Situation in Sierra Leone, 6 September, 2012

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Nationally the cholera incidence continues to show an upward trend particularly in Western Area which accounts for the majority of cases (49%). As of the 26 August 2012 the national cumulative for all ten districts is 13,659 cases with 231 deaths (CFR=1.7). The following districts continue to report high number of cases; Western Area (210) , Bombali (31) and Tonkoli (31).

Cholera situation in Sierra Leone - 26August 2012

Articles in this edition include: 

1. Review of Early Infant Diagnosis of HIV in Sierra Leone
2. Sierra Leone and Liberia Undertook Joint Training on WHO OneHealth Tool 
3. Acute Malnutrition Situation in Children 1st Quarter 2012

WHO Sierra Leone Newsletter May June 2012

Freetown 30 July 2014 - His Excellency President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone visited Kenema and Kailahun on 28 and 29 July respectively to assess the level of the  ongoing Ebola outbreak in the two districts. This is the first visit of the President to the two epicentres of the outbreak since the onset of the disease in May this year. 

FREETOWN –1st May 2014 - The Minister of Health and Sanitation Madam Miata Kargbo launched the Sierra Leone Malaria Indicator Survey 2013 during World Malaria Day 2014 held at the Saint Anthony’s hall in Freetown. The Minister applauded the progress made in malaria control noting that “we have a reason to celebrate our achievements” She commended the efforts of Ministry of Health Staff and partners for their contribution but pointed out that the country has to do more to reach its goal.