Menu

News Post

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio Shares Country Experience With Pandemics, Efforts At Healthcare Delivery At the High-Level Africa-CDC Forum

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Saturday 18 February 2023 – His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has shared his country’s experience with Ebola, successes with Covid-19 and efforts at creating public health agencies and using early warning systems.

“The main lesson for us in Sierra Leone is a clear understanding that Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response are Everybody’s Business. Political leadership, health diplomacy, technical capabilities, active community engagement, flexible funding, and most importantly, speed-of-action, are perhaps the most important success factors for managing an epidemic or pandemic.

“…we are establishing an effective and efficient approach to service delivery that involves strengthening Primary Health Care as well as improving clinical services at the secondary and tertiary levels. We are using the Life-Stages approach to quality client/patient-centred care,” he said.

He added that those efforts would be complemented by the establishment of a National Public Health Agency, coming on the back of a November 2022 ratification by the Sierra Leone Parliament of the new Public Health Bill.

“The new Public Health Agency will build and strengthen core competencies in surveillance and epidemiology, data and data analytics, laboratory science, and research to answer local and global questions. This would be done while focusing on addressing routine health challenges and honing early warning systems during ‘Quiet’ periods. We will complement those efforts with simulations and exercises to maintain outbreak response competencies,” he averred.

President Julius Maada Bio further noted that though tremendous progress had been made over the years, the Ebola outbreak of 2014 to 2016 in West Africa was still raw in their psyche as a nation, with over 14,000 infections and nearly 4,000 deaths.

“Those lessons learned were on full display before, and at every stage of our response to COVID-19 in Sierra Leone. Even before the first case was detected in my country, I assembled a Presidential-Taskforce that I chaired. I took full responsibility and accountability for the response. The Taskforce included representation of key line-Ministries of my government and civil society. We also maintained strong links with international development partners and the private sector,” he said.

He recalled that those outbreaks had taught his government and country that epidemics and pandemics were not just health issues, but they had a way of affecting all facets of the lives of people with devastating consequences.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in Sierra Leone we have had our own share of epidemics and pandemics. As a nation, we refuse to be defined by these health crises. We believe that what hurt us yesterday, makes us wiser, strengthens our resolve, and makes us more determined to not only build back but build back better,” he concluded.

For More Enquiries: State House Media and Communications Unit

 

 

Press Releases

Related Posts

Former APC MP, NGC Councillors, Others In Tonko Limba Declare for SLPP, Assure Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio of Kambia District Voters on 24 June Elections

Kambia Town, Northwestern Region, Saturday 25 March 2023 — His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has received declarations in Kambia District from a two-time former Member of Parliament, MP,

Read More »

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio Attends Funeral of Former Driver of First Lady, Says the Late Man Was a Patriot Who Liked His Country and Committed to His Job

Waterloo Community, Western Rural District, Thursday 23 March 2023 – His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, First Lady Fatima Bio and senior government officials have joined family members and

Read More »

ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Honour Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio for Exceptional Leadership in Empowering Women, Guarantee Support For Government’s Human Capital Development

State House, Freetown, Wednesday 23 March 2023 – His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has been presented with an award as Patron of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association, ECOFEPA,

Read More »