By: Saidu Jalloh
The Government of Sierra Leone celebrates One Health Day with the theme “One Health in Communities,” emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. This initiative aims to promote collaboration between different sectors to address health challenges holistically.
In his keynote address, the Honourable Deputy Minister 1 of the Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr. Charles Senesie, emphasized the importance of the One Health approach in preventing and controlling diseases that can spread between animals and humans. He also highlighted the need for coordinated efforts in surveillance, research, and education to ensure the well-being of both people and animals in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Senesie also stressed the importance of incorporating traditional knowledge and practices into modern health strategies to tackle emerging zoonotic diseases effectively. He called for increased investment in infrastructure and capacity building to support a comprehensive One Health approach in communities across Sierra Leone.
In closing, Dr. Charles Senesie expressed his optimism that Sierra Leone can better protect its communities from health threats that arise at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health by embracing the One Health approach. He called on stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, traditional leaders, and the public, to foster a healthier, more resilient Sierra Leone.
He affirmed that with a united effort, the nation can effectively reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases, enhance public health outcomes, and pave the way for sustainable development.
Additionally, the Deputy Minister 1 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), Dr. Teresa Dick, thanked all development partners for their contributions to making One Health a success. She reiterated that only a few African nations have passed the National Public Health Act, which gave birth to the new National Public Health Agency (NPHA).
She also recognized that Sierra Leone had improved its scores for the Joint External Evaluation (JEE). Dr. Dick thanked the Ministry of Health for collaborating with her ministry (MAFS) since the inception of the One Health phenomenon.
Through effective collaboration, MAFS has achieved the following to strengthen the animal health sector: reviewed the Animal Disease Ordinance Act of 1944 to the Animal Health Bill of 2020, reviewed the Animal Cruelty Act of 1960 to the Animal Welfare Act of 2020, and refurbished the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) located at Teko, in Makeni City.
Dr. Dick also recognized and thanked donor partners, including FAO, Africa-CDC, WHO, USAID, as well as other line ministries that are pillars under the One Health Approach, for their support and contributions.
The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Agricultural Officer Professor Dr. Abdulai Jalloh, also spoke on the importance of collaboration with other ministries, especially regarding the interconnectedness of human health, plant health, and the environment. The Chief Agricultural Officer plays a crucial role in ensuring that plant, animal, and environmental health are integrated into a cohesive strategy.
This involves overseeing agricultural practices that promote sustainable plant health, coordinating with veterinary services to monitor and control animal diseases, and working with environmental agencies to ensure that agricultural activities do not harm the ecosystem. By fostering collaboration across these sectors, the Chief Agricultural Officer helps create a holistic health approach that benefits the entire community.
