By Rose Aba Akafo
The World Health Organization (WHO) last Thursday handed over eight vehicles to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) to boost disease surveillance in the country. A similar donation of utility vehicles and ambulances was made last September to strengthen the ministry’s capacity to respond to emergencies across the different regions in the country.
The handover ceremony was attended by key stakeholders, including the Permanent Secretary at MOHS, Mr. Andrew Sorie, Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby, WHO Country Representative Dr. George Ameh, Executive Director of the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) Professor Foday Sahr, and other senior health officials.
Welcoming guests, Mr. Sorie emphasized the importance of continued collaboration in strengthening Sierra Leone’s health infrastructure. In his keynote address, Minister Demby expressed gratitude to WHO for its consistent and comprehensive support to the health sector.
“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every Sierra Leonean, regardless of where they live, has access to quality healthcare,” Dr. Demby stated. He underscored the central role of primary healthcare in bringing essential services closer to the people and emphasized the importance of health security: prevention, preparedness, and rapid response to outbreaks.
Referencing the recent mpox outbreak, Dr. Demby revealed that while Sierra Leone recorded over 4,000 cases from January to July, active cases have now declined to just 286. He attributed this significant progress to effective strategies and the critical support of partners, especially the WHO.
“WHO has been more than just a technical advisor,” Dr. Demby added. “They have provided financial assistance, equipment, and consistent presence on the ground. Their support has been instrumental every step of the way.”
Dr. George Ameh, WHO country representative expressed pride in representing the organization from the national level to its regional office in Brazzaville and global headquarters in Geneva. He highlighted that Sierra Leone was one of the countries selected to benefit from the Pandemic Fund, an initiative aimed at strengthening global pandemic preparedness and response.
Dr. Ameh officially handed over the eight vehicles, noting that they will be deployed across the country to support district-level surveillance and response efforts. He thanked international donors and the government of Sierra Leone for entrusting WHO with the implementation of this critical component of the project.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Professor Foday Sahr described the occasion as a significant milestone for the health sector. “Today marks another important step forward in our collective effort to build a resilient health system,” he said.
The ceremony concluded with the signing of handover documents and the formal presentation of the vehicles to the ministry.