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The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) have introduced a new framework aimed at helping countries measure how prepared they are to respond to disease outbreaks in practice, rather than only on paper.
Known as the Architectural and Operational Readiness Gap (AORG), the framework was developed by the NPHA and tested during Sierra Leone’s response to the Bundibugyo virus disease emergency declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 16 May 2026.
Following the declaration, the Ministry of Health and the NPHA completed the ECOWAS regional rapid assessment and carried out an internal review of the country’s preparedness. The assessment found that Sierra Leone scored 80 per cent for architectural readiness, measuring the existence of plans, systems, and infrastructure. But 50 per cent for operational readiness, which reflects the ability to put those systems into action during an emergency.
The agencies openly identified the 30-point gap and developed time-bound actions, assigning responsibility to specific units to improve the country’s emergency response capacity.
According to the Ministry, the AORG framework addresses a key limitation in existing global preparedness tools, which often focus on whether emergency plans and facilities exist but provide limited information on whether they can function effectively during the critical early stages of an outbreak.
The framework is designed to work alongside existing assessment tools without requiring additional surveys or funding, making it a practical and low-cost solution for countries across the region.
The Ministry and the NPHA say the framework also provides important lessons for ECOWAS member states. Among its findings are the need for laboratories to prepare for multiple Ebola virus strains, including Bundibugyo virus disease, the importance of maintaining infection prevention and control systems between outbreaks, and the need to ensure emergency health funds can be accessed quickly when crises occur.
Officials believe that if adopted across ECOWAS member states, the AORG framework could provide the region with a standardised way of measuring emergency preparedness and support coordinated responses through the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The initiative builds on Sierra Leone’s public health reforms following the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak, including the establishment of the National Public Health Agency and the enactment of the Public Health Act 2022. Authorities say the framework represents the country’s continued contribution to strengthening health security across West Africa.
