Sierra Leone News

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) in collaboration with its health sector partners validated 2013 Sector Annual Operational Plan (AOP) in a two day workshop held on 8-9 January 2013. The AOP was developed by consolidating 19 Local Council Health Plans, 21 Hospital Plans and the Central Level Plan which were individually validated and finalized in November 2012 with the input of the health sector partners. The initial validation processes helped the sector to align and endorse plans at all levels based on the available resource envelop.

Sierra Leone launched its National Mental Health Policy and Strategic Plan at the commemoration of World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2012. The documents and the commemoration were launched by the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Mrs Sia Nyama Koroma in a function attended by government functionaries and non-state actors including UN agencies and other development partners, mental health advocates, the civil society and the media.

As of 10 September 2012, the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation were 17,319 and 259 deaths respectively. Twelve (12) of the 13 districts in the country are now affected.

On 10 September 2012, Western Area continued to report the highest number of cases (140), followed by Bombali (20), Tonkolili (14) and Kambia (13). One death was reported from Kenema district. The national case fatality ratio is now 1.5.

Nationally the cholera incidence continues to show an upward trend particularly in Western Area which accounts for the majority of cases (49%). As of the 27 August 2012 the national cumulative for all ten districts is 13,918 cases with 232 deaths (CFR=1.7). Western Area(183), Bombali (20) and Tonkolili (17) reported the highest number of cases. Cholera outbreak has been confirmed in Kenema district in the East of the country bringing the number of affected districts to 11. Reported data indicate 16 cases with no deaths.

New cholera cases and deaths due to the ongoing outbreak, continue to be reported in 8 of 13 districts in Sierra Leone. By August 11, 2012, a total of 9,234 cholera cases and 160 deaths have been reported by the Directorate of Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. The Case Fatality Rate is 1.7% and the Attack Rate is 0.26%.

Cholera situation in Sierra Leone - 10 August 2012

Freetown, Sierra Leone – 31 August 2015: Detection of a new case of Ebola virus disease in Kambia, Sierra Leone after the country had marked almost three weeks of zero cases has set in motion the first ‘ring vaccination’ use of the experimental Ebola vaccine in Sierra Leone.

The last batch of Ebola responders from the Cuban Medical Brigade will depart Sierra Leone on 1 April 2015, following a farewell ceremony with local dignitaries on Monday, 30 March in Freetown. The first contingent of 98 Cuban health workers departed Sierra Leone on Sunday 22 March after nearly 6 months supporting the Ebola outbreak response in the country.

Epidemiological data

WHO is helping Sierra Leone to mobilize all its experience and partners to ensure that any new cases of Ebola are investigated and transmission of the disease stopped as rapidly as possible. Sad news that a 16-year old girl had died from Ebola in Bombali district, a part of the country that had a large outbreak 6 months ago, sparked an immediate inter-agency rapid response. Partners sent people with the skills and equipment needed to stop further infection in Bombali.

In Sierra Leone, the Ebola outbreak has affected all aspects of health care. Exact numbers are yet to be confirmed but it is clear that many children have missed out on routine vaccination services during the outbreak. To counter this, mass immunization campaigns are being held nationwide