By: Problyn J. Alpha
Sierra Leone Research and Action on Salt and Hypertension (SLASH), in collaboration with the Kono District Health Management Team (DHMT), has held a stakeholder meeting to raise awareness about salt consumption, healthy lifestyles and hypertension under its Salt, Lifestyle and Hypertension in Sierra Leone (SLASH) Project.
The meeting was held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Kono District Council Hall in Koidu City and brought together stakeholders from various sectors.
Chairman of the Kono District Council, Sahr Augustine Sheku, who chaired the meeting, described the initiative as timely, citing concerns over hypertension-related deaths in the district.
He called for increased public awareness about excessive salt consumption and unhealthy dietary practices, while pledging the council’s support for the successful implementation of the project.
Senior Health Education Officer and RCCE Lead at the Kono DHMT, Michael Aiah Yomba, said the meeting was aimed at informing stakeholders about the SLASH project and preparing communities for its implementation.
Meanwhile, SLASH Lead Researcher, Dr. Tahir Bockarie, said the project seeks to generate evidence to support policies and interventions aimed at reducing salt consumption and preventing hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and stroke in Sierra Leone.
SLASH representative Christlyn Williams said the research will target at least 1,000 participants in Kono District, including 300 from Koidu City and 700 from communities outside the city.
She explained that participants will undergo dietary interviews, 24-hour urine collection, blood sampling and other health assessments. The collected samples will subsequently be analyzed in Freetown.
Several stakeholders at the meeting pledged their support for the successful implementation of the research in Kono District.