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Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) has engaged the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) in a strategic meeting to prepare for the upcoming Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), a critical national undertaking aimed at providing updated data to inform health policy and planning.
The meeting, held in a collaborative and forward-looking atmosphere, focused on reviewing the current status of the DHS and outlining a clear implementation roadmap. Present at the high-level engagement were Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby; Statistician-General of Sierra Leone, Andrew Bob Johnny; Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sartie Kanneh; Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Tom Sesay; Director of Public Policy and Information; Director of the Demographic, Health, and Social Statistics Division at Stats SL, Mohamed Koblo Kamara; and other senior officials from both institutions.
Statistician-General Johnny provided a detailed update on DHS progress, emphasizing ongoing coordination with international technical partner, supporting the global DHS program. He confirmed that a budget review has been completed and that updates to the project documentation are in progress.
In his remarks, Minister of Health Dr. Demby commended Stats SL for its consistent commitment to producing reliable data that underpins national development strategies.
“We are eager for the DHS to be implemented this year. The Ministry urgently needs updated DHS data, as we have been operating with the 2019 report, which is now outdated for effective planning and execution of our health programs,” Dr. Demby stated.
He assured Stats SL of the government’s unwavering support and commitment to the successful rollout of the survey.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sartie Kanneh echoed this sentiment, urging Stats SL to finalize all remaining processes and complete the signing of the official DHS implementation contract within the next two weeks.
The Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) is a nationally representative household survey that captures essential data on key health and population indicators. It serves as a vital resource for monitoring and evaluating health, nutrition, and population-related programs, particularly in developing countries.
