By: Saidu Jalloh
In a major step toward reinforcing Sierra Leone’s health resilience, the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), in collaboration with the One Health Secretariat, convened the First Quarter One Health Coordination Committee Meeting. Held under the auspices of the Government of Sierra Leone, the meeting brought together a diverse group of stakeholders committed to enhancing collaboration across the human, animal, and environmental health sectors.
Opening the session, Miss Rachel Sandi, Deputy Coordinator of the One Health Secretariat, welcomed attendees and highlighted the broad institutional representation. She emphasized the significance of the One Health Approach in tackling complex public health challenges, noting that the meeting served as a vital platform for partnership building, information sharing, and coordinated strategic planning.
Participants included representatives from key institutions such as the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS), UNICEF, JHPIEGO, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Office of National Security (ONS), the Ministry of Water Resources, the University of Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Police, and the National Radiology Protection Agency. Key contributors also included pillar leads from the NPHA, with Dr. Mohamed Alex Vandi, Deputy Executive Director of NPHA, playing a prominent role in the discussions.
The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Abdulai Jalloh, Chief Agriculture Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, who stressed the urgent need for effective cross-sector collaboration to meet national health goals.
Discussions focused on several pressing issues, including zoonotic disease surveillance, combating antimicrobial resistance, and ecosystem health monitoring. As a key outcome, the committee resolved to establish specialized working groups tasked with developing actionable plans to address each of these challenges. Participants also emphasized the need for continuous communication and collaboration to ensure sustainable progress.
The session reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to the One Health mission: integrating human, animal, and environmental health efforts to improve preparedness for public health emergencies, reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases, and promote sustainable management of natural resources.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Mohamed Alex Vandi reiterated the strategic importance of such collaborative platforms in aligning sectorial efforts toward a unified health vision. On behalf of the NPHA Executive Director, he expressed heartfelt gratitude to all participants and donor partners for their ongoing support of the One Health agenda.
The session concluded with a renewed sense of purpose. Miss Sandi’s compelling opening remarks set the tone for productive engagement, and participants left with strengthened commitment to advancing Sierra Leone’s health security through a unified, cross-sector approach.