The Government of Sierra Leone, through the National Public Health Agency, holds a three-day One Health Annual Operational Plan, 2024 Validation workshop for 2024.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Alie Wurie, and opening statements were made by the WHO, USAID, GIZ, and key MDAs (MoH, MoECC, and MAFS), including NUC and other key MDAs. Partners in attendance were NDMA, MWR, MoICE, ONS, MSW, Stop Spillover, SLRC, including CSO, and the Academia.
The workshop aims to review, cost, and validate a draft national One Health AOP for 2024. The plan focuses on strengthening collaboration between the human, animal, and environmental health sectors to address public health threats and promote overall well-being in Sierra Leone.
This plan will address key issues such as zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, environmental health, and ecosystem health. Stakeholders from various sectors, including health, agriculture, water resources, and the environment, will collaborate to ensure a comprehensive and effective approach to One Health in Sierra Leone.
The participants were divided into thematic groups, namely surveillance and laboratory, AMR, IPC, risk communication, infodemic, institutional governance, and programme management. Each group focuses on specific aspects of One Health, as indicated, to prioritise cross-cutting, high-impact activities.
By working together in these specialised groups, stakeholders can address the complex interplay between human, animal, and environmental health more effectively. If we think about health together and plan together, we can do it better together.
