By: Saidu Jalloh
During a government weekly press conference held at Foreign Affairs, Professor Foday Shar, the Executive Director of Public Health Emergency in Sierra Leone, announced the country’s first reported case of Polio Virus (PV3) in a child from Kambia District. Additionally, he disclosed the detection of Polio Variant Virus Type 2 in sewage at Mabella Sawmill Bridge, Western Area Urban, Sierra Leone. Professor Shar emphasized that this was a matter of great concern, especially given the occurrence of the virus in neighboring African countries such as Guinea, Cote d’Ivore, and Liberia.
In response to the outbreak, Professor Shar stated that the agency had activated its various structures and was conducting regular testing. Collaborating with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), USAID, and other partners, they were implementing a comprehensive response plan in the affected areas. This plan included community engagement efforts and a multifaceted approach, with vaccination being a key component to prevent further spread among children.
Despite Sierra Leone’s previous declaration of being polio-free, Professor Shar emphasized the necessity of a swift response to the single reported case. He highlighted the launch of the National Public Health Emergency in December 2023, which aimed to enhance the country’s preparedness and response capabilities to any public health emergency, whether or not an outbreak was ongoing.
Professor Shar stressed the importance of early detection and quick response, with active surveillance conducted by community health workers (CHOs) to identify potential cases. He outlined the agency’s pillars of operation, including the laboratory pillar for sample testing and the case management pillar for handling detected cases. Additionally, he underscored the agency’s broader scope, which extends to animal health and environmental factors, recognizing that many diseases can be contracted from animals or the environment.
