By: Mohamed Sahr mohamedsahrpro@gmail.com
Ensuring the preparedness of the country’s public health response and enforcing public health security, Executive Director of National Public Health Agency has revealed commitment to improving the development and management of public health interventions during a press briefing on Monday at the EOC complex in Freetown.
Professor Foday Sahr, Executive Director said the establishment of the National Public Health Agency serves as a significant landmark in the country’s efforts in scaling up health public emergencies. He added that the NPHA would serve as a symbol of hope in addressing issues relating to public health, and providing leadership as well as expertise in specific area.
Prof Sahr mentioned that the NPHA would be responsible for coordinating public health activities across the nation and ensuring the country’s preparedness on effective response to future public health stress. “The NPHA is guided by five overarching goals that establishes a robust health surveillance system which provides timely and actionable data for informed intervention,” NPHA Executive Director said.
He furthered that the NPHA would create an effective public health reference laboratory network that supports surveillance efforts with the capacity to expand in order to meet revolving population health needs.
Prof Sahr emphasized that one of the goals of the NPHA is to build a resilient health system that would not only limit to identifying and training public health professionals, but capable of effectively preparing for as well responding and managing public health emergencies.
He affirmed that the agency would foster a strong and coordinated public health research capacity that informs policy relating to public health programs. “It will promote equity in health, reduce risk, advocate for healthy lifestyles and settings and address the underlined determinants in health,” Prof Sahr reaffirmed.
He highlighted the strategic goals including management and operations, public health surveillance, public health laboratory and networking, emergency preparedness and response, public health workforce development, public health research, health promotion and risk communication, IPC and Wash among others.
Prof Sahr commended the Government of Sierra Leone for its robust commitment to offering continuous political support and leadership and the crafting of international linkages.
Dr. Daphne Moffett, Director of U.S Central for Disease Control (CDC) said what they get from the National Public Health Agency are data-driven actions, recommendations and decisions. She stated that it takes the population to identify what would bring about the establishment of a strong health agency. “The framing of public health stories has a lot of impact on the public,” Dr. Moffett said.
She thanked the Government of Sierra Leone under the Ministry of Health for the launching of the National Public Health Agency in the country.
Dr. Susan Micheals Skass, Senior Director Health Workforce ICAP said developing a formidable health agency in the country serves as a testament of Sierra Leone’s emergency response in handling the COVID-19. She noted that public health focuses on prevention and early intervention of disease as an underlining priority.
Micheals Skass mentioned that National Public Health Agency is the bedrock in ensuring disease prevention and intervention. “Offering training and laboratory system help to contain any outbreak in a country,” Dr. Micheals Skass said.
Charles Mambu, Executive Director of Health for all Coalition said engaging community Leaders in the approach of acquiring public health would make the work of the agency easier.
He alluded that one of the bigger challenges in the establishment of agencies like NPHA is sustainability in terms of the required funding and workforce. “When we get the sustainability right, we will get the health systems right,” Mr. Mambu said.
He called on the Government of Sierra Leone and development partners to keep in the financing and funding of the newly launched National Public Health Agency.