By: Saidu Jalloh
The National Public Health Agency (NPHA) has commenced the Year One Annual Implementation Review Meeting of the Pandemic Fund Project in Bo City, bringing together government officials, development partners, and technical experts to assess progress made during the project’s first year and outline priorities for improving Sierra Leone’s pandemic preparedness.
The three-day review, which runs from 21 to 23 July at De Wizzard Hall in Bo City, is being supported by funding from the Pandemic Fund and implemented in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and GOAL Sierra Leone.
The meeting aims to evaluate the achievements and challenges recorded during the first year of implementation, identify lessons learned, and develop strategic recommendations to guide the next phase of the project.
On the opening day, participants reviewed the project’s governance and coordination structures, while assessing the performance of early warning and surveillance systems. Discussions also focused on human health surveillance, wildlife surveillance, and Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) strategies.
According to organizers, the review is designed to strengthen multisectoral collaboration, enhance integrated surveillance systems, and support Sierra Leone’s One Health approach, which promotes collaboration between human, animal, and environmental health sectors to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats.
Stakeholders are also evaluating the effectiveness of investments made through the Pandemic Fund Project and identifying measures to further improve the country’s capacity for disease prevention, emergency preparedness, and response.
The review reflects the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to accountability, evidence-based decision-making, and continuous improvement in building a resilient health system capable of addressing future disease outbreaks and health emergencies.
Representatives from government ministries, development partners, implementing organizations, and technical institutions are participating in the meeting, which is expected to conclude with key recommendations to guide the project’s second year of implementation.
The Pandemic Fund Project is part of Sierra Leone’s broader efforts to strengthen national health security through partnerships, innovation, and coordinated action aimed at protecting citizens from emerging public health risks.