Sierra Leone has had health emergencies with catastrophic impacts on the lives of its citizens, and, on the economy due to the country unpreparedness. With lessons learned from those mistakes, the New Direction Government has assured that they cannot allow such emergencies to recur.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) is promoting multisectoral collaboration to strengthen the country’s health emergency preparedness and response capacities in the health sector. With progress made in the health sector, Sierra Leone is probably one of the countries on course to attaining the best protection for its people against disease outbreaks and other public health events despite their current challenges.

On 12th September 2019, Sierra Leone became the seventh country in the African region to launched a National Action Plan for Health Security.

The comprehensive five-year National Action Plan for Health Security complies with International Health Regulations, said the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS). Implementation of this plan will enable Sierra Leone to prevent the likelihood and reduce the consequences of disease outbreaks and other public health hazards; build national capacities for early detection and effective response systems to public health emergencies and other events of public health threats.

Speaking at the launch, President Bio said, quality healthcare is fundamental to the overall well-being and productivity of a nation. The President noted the government is to provide quality and equitable access to healthcare for all Sierra Leoneans regardless of gender, ethnicity, social or economic class.

Cross-section of donors and stakeholders in the health sector in attendance

The government maintains a rights-based approach to healthcare, as stated in the national constitution. Our policies; driven by the provision, the State shall direct its policy towards ensuring adequate medical, and health facilities available for all persons. Having due regard to the resources of the State; my government believes that every Sierra Leonean has a right to access quality healthcare that is affordable and adequate for his or her needs, President Bio stressed.

He explained further with the help of development partners they invested heavily in healthcare over the last year and a half. He added that they have also increased healthcare spending to 10% of the national budget.

Country Representative for the World Health Organisation, Evans Majani Liyosi, congratulated the government and the people of Sierra Leone for the launch of its health security plans. Adding pandemic outbreak health emergencies is a threat in global health.

American Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Maria Elena Brewer, said that the progress made by Sierra Leone was a testament to the commitment of the country’s leadership. The launch of the national action plans was a milestone that represents a robust commitment by all sectors of the government. The plans, she said, build and strengthen capacity to protect the country, its neighbors and the world from public health threats.

Minister of Health and Sanitation, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie, said that Sierra Leone was in readiness to combat any disease outbreak because of the massive improvements made in the health sector by the New Direction Government. He stated that the government was very much committed to improving public health service delivery. He commended donor partners for supporting the work of the government.