Government Steps Up Ebola Preparedness, Strengthens Hospital Readiness
Alex Fefegula Harding Sierra Leone has stepped up preparations for a possible Ebola outbreak, requiring hospitals across the country to maintain isolation capacity for suspected cases as health authorities seek to strengthen coordination between public and private healthcare providers.
The directive requires hospitals nationwide to reserve at least two beds for the isolation of suspected Ebola patients, according to a report by Truth Media on November 12.
The measure was announced on Wednesday, November 11, during a meeting between the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), the Ministry of Health and private healthcare practitioners at the NPHA headquarters on Wilkinson Road in Freetown.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sulaiman Lakkoh, stressed the need for healthcare facilities to remain prepared to identify, isolate and manage suspected Ebola cases should the disease return to Sierra Leone.
He emphasised that preparedness goes beyond making isolation beds available, noting that hospitals must also strengthen infection prevention and control measures, maintain professional standards among healthcare workers and ensure proper medical waste management.
Dr. Lakkoh specifically warned healthcare facilities against mixing medical and non-medical waste, stressing the importance of proper waste separation in reducing the risk of infection and preventing potential disease transmission.
The meeting also brought attention to operational challenges faced by private healthcare providers, particularly difficulties accessing emergency response services through the national 117 hotline during nighttime hours.
Responding to the concerns, Dr. Lakkoh acknowledged the challenges raised but assured participants that the emergency hotline remains operational, according to Truth Media.
Deputy Executive Director of the NPHA, Dr. Mohamed Alex Vandi, said the agency was strengthening disease surveillance and preventive measures to identify possible routes through which Ebola could enter Sierra Leone.
Discussions also covered laboratory capacity, disease surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, and public risk communication, as health authorities seek to ensure that healthcare providers are adequately equipped to respond to a potential outbreak.
Participants reportedly agreed on measures to integrate private healthcare facilities more fully into Sierra Leone’s national Ebola preparedness and response framework.
The engagement highlights the importance of a coordinated national response involving both public and private healthcare institutions, particularly in ensuring that suspected cases can be identified and isolated promptly, regardless of where patients first seek medical attention.
By requiring hospitals to maintain isolation capacity and addressing operational gaps raised by private practitioners, health authorities are seeking to strengthen the country’s readiness to respond to a possible Ebola threat.