sierra leone reviews ebola readiness amid critical gaps
health ministry identifies urgent needs in coordination, isolation capacity, and supplies.
Sierra Leone's Ministry of Health, via the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), has reviewed the nation's Ebola preparedness, identifying critical gaps in emergency response systems. The review, held at NPHA headquarters in Wilberforce, focused on strengthening coordination, hospital isolation capacity, infection prevention, and contact tracing.
Officials stressed the need to activate the incident management structure and assess hospital readiness, while also highlighting the importance of engaging paramount chiefs and community leaders for public awareness. The NPHA called on stakeholders to urgently address identified gaps and ensure adequate supplies for operational readiness.
This review follows reports of seven confirmed Ebola cases in Kenya, linked to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sierra Leone has intensified surveillance at Freetown International Airport and land borders, particularly for travellers from affected countries.
Why it mattersSierra Leone is reviewing its Ebola preparedness due to identified gaps and recent cases in Kenya.