By: Mohamed Sahr
Constructing strategy recommendations on the preparedness and response on health issues in Sierra Leone, Ministry of Health and Sanitations in partnership with World Health Organization has concluded the high-level mission on Universal Health and Preparedness Review in a press briefing held at the Atlantic Hotel in Freetown on Thursday 4th May 2023.
Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health and Sanitations said even though Sierra had been the first country in West Africa and second in Africa as well as fifth in the world to host such event. He added that it takes a pride to welcome the entire world into Sierra Leone in order to discuss the relevant of health preparedness and response. He noted that they had an outstanding participation by His Excellency President Bio, the Vice President and the Chief Minister outlining the emphasis on universal health emergencies and preparedness with sectorial approach.
He added that the review targeted the country’s preparedness to outbreaks and how Sierra Leone would response to both epidemic and pandemic in the future. “We are here today to build a robust system which adequately detect and response to emergencies,” Dr. Demby stated.
Minister Demby also emphasized that one of the lessons learned was the health emergencies always begin with health-related issues and they are issues that impacted all facets of life ranging from Agriculture, Education and Tourism among others. Dr. Demby said governance structure brings everybody together especially during the increase of emergencies where everyone is acting on the responses.
Dr. Demby furthered that with the leadership of President Bio, at the early stage of COVID-19, he instituted a taskforce to ensure that operational implementations were decentralized with relevant structure associated with it from the experience learned during the Ebola epidemic in recent times as well as to make a rapid response and fight against COVID-19.
He mentioned that the work program of the Ministry of Health and Sanitations is directed to women and girls for the most part adding that, throughout the deliberation, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs played a significant role in order to see that women and girls are catered for. Dr. Demby said they were able to dramatically reduce Maternal Mortality Rate to 60%.
He noted that they are building health emergencies on a solid healthcare system that is innovative and up-to-date. “We are looking at different life stages as a deliberate approach in our preparedness,” Minister Demby said.
He affirmed that the review would capture infrastructure, financing, health workforce and a strong system where workers would be able to detect and response to the emergencies.
Dr. Innocent Nuwagira, World Health Organization Representative said the Universal Health and Preparedness Review serve as a mechanism that governs everybody in a particular country. He said Sierra Leone has demonstrated transparency and accountability by coming out inviting WHO to look into the health system and proffered advice and showcase the country’s shortfalls and learned from the strength.
He stated that the identification of gaps and the plan to fill those gaps through the document could be used to enforce resource mobilization and reflect it to other countries in the world. “Strengthening the system for the delivery of universal healthcare can be able to provide a passion-centred life stage healthcare living no one behind,” Dr. Nuwagira reaffirmed.
Dr. Lindiwe Makubalo, Assistant Director of World Health Organization in Africa felt grateful and honoured for being part of such intense Universal Health and Preparedness Review Mission in Sierra Leone. He emphasized that they felt honoured for having the opportunity of meeting with the most senior leadership in the country. She said Sierra Leone is a living example of a country emerging from emergencies. She thanked other partners for their commitments and supports to Sierra Leone.