Freetown - The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) have received sixteen Honda motorbikes from the World Health Organization (WHO), with support from the Pandemic Fund, to strengthen public health emergency preparedness and response across Sierra Leone.

The handover ceremony took place at the WHO Country Office in Freetown on 26 May 2026, where the WHO Representative to Sierra Leone, Dr. George Ameh, officially presented the motorbikes to the Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. Charles Senesie. The event was attended by the Executive Director of the NPHA, Prof. Sahr Foday, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Health, NPHA, and WHO teams.

As Sierra Leone continues to face increasing public health threats, including disease outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies, the need for rapid and reliable transportation for surveillance and emergency operations has grown significantly. Existing fleet capacity at district level has become increasingly constrained due to aging vehicles and the rising demand for outbreak investigations, field deployments, and routine monitoring of activities.

The newly donated motorbikes are expected to improve the operational capacity of the NPHA emergencies programme by supporting rapid deployment of surveillance and response teams, transportation of emergency supplies, and field monitoring activities, particularly in remote and underserved communities.

Speaking during the ceremony, Dr. George Ameh reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s health security priorities.

“Thanks to the Pandemic Fund, we are handing over these motorbikes as an investment in faster response, stronger surveillance systems, and better access to vulnerable communities. At WHO, we remain committed to working with the Government of Sierra Leone and partners to strengthen preparedness and build resilient health systems capable of protecting lives,” he said.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone, Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Charles Senesie expressed appreciation to WHO and the Pandemic Fund for their continued partnership and support to the country’s health sector.

“This donation demonstrates the continued commitment of WHO as a trusted partner, alongside the Pandemic Fund, to strengthening resilient health systems and supporting emergency preparedness and response mechanisms nationwide,” he stated.

The donation represents another important step towards strengthening Sierra Leone’s capacity to detect, respond to, and manage public health emergencies while ensuring that essential health interventions reach communities in a timely and effective manner.