By: Saidu Jalloh
A joint delegation from the Economic Community of West African States Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (ECOWAS RCSDC) and the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) of Sierra Leone has engaged Gambian health authorities in efforts to strengthen Behavioral Intelligence and Infodemic Management (BIIM) systems aimed at enhancing public health emergency preparedness and response.
The delegation, comprising Dr. Imaobong Udo Isang of ECOWAS RCSDC, alongside Mr. Michael Karama and Mr. Patrick Lansana of NPHA Sierra Leone, met with officials from *The Gambia’s Ministry of Health during a technical mission to support the rollout of BIIM initiatives in the country.
The Gambian delegation was led by Mr. Michael Manga Mendy, Director of Health Promotion and Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), and included representatives from the Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) unit, the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), ICT Surveillance, and the National Call Centre.
As part of the mission, the team paid a courtesy visit to Dr. Yusupha Touray, Permanent Secretary One at the Ministry of Health. Discussions focused on strengthening systems for monitoring misinformation, enhancing community engagement, and improving public health communication strategies.
Speaking during the engagement, Dr. Imaobong Udo Isang explained that the initiative seeks to assist countries in establishing effective mechanisms for behavioral intelligence and infodemic management through robust reporting systems, dashboard testing, reviews of standard operating procedures (SOPs), and targeted capacity-building activities.
She noted that the programme will be piloted in The Gambia, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cabo Verde, while drawing heavily on lessons learned and best practices from Sierra Leone, where the approach was first implemented.
According to the ECOWAS RCSDC official, Sierra Leone’s experience in managing public health information and fostering community engagement has provided a valuable model for other countries in the region seeking to strengthen preparedness for disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
Representatives of The Gambia’s Ministry of Health commended ECOWAS RCSDC and NPHA Sierra Leone for the collaborative effort and expressed appreciation to Dr. Mamadou Diarrassouba, Director General of ECOWAS RCSDC, and Prof. Foday Sahr for facilitating Sierra Leone’s participation in the regional initiative.
The mission forms part of broader regional efforts to strengthen public health emergency preparedness, improve risk communication strategies, and enhance community engagement mechanisms across West Africa.
Health officials from both countries reaffirmed their commitment to working together to combat misinformation and build resilient public health systems capable of responding effectively to emerging health threats across the region.