Health Alert Sierra Leone, a local Civil Society Organization specializing in health advocacy and accountability programming, conducted a day-long engagement with Pujehun District stakeholders focusing on emergency response and health preparedness for COVID-19 and other potential epidemics.

The meeting convened at the District Health Management Team (DHMT) hall in Pujehun and saw participation from various key stakeholders. Among the attendees were the District Medical Officer, health officers, representatives from the Chief Administrator’s office, journalists, women’s groups, youths, adolescents, market women, school pupils, and teachers.

David Alieu, the project manager of Health Alert Sierra Leone, highlighted that the gathering was aligned with the objectives of the Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal Child Health, and Nutrition Networks.

The primary aim of Health Alert Sierra Leone, Alieu emphasized, was to ensure increased accessibility of health facilities for adolescents and women, thereby ensuring the delivery of quality care.

Moreover, the organization is actively striving to boost the uptake of family planning commodities and implement sexual reproductive health and rights programming.

Alieu reaffirmed their commitment to providing comprehensive training to healthcare providers, focusing on disease preparedness to effectively handle potential outbreaks.

Tiangay Palma, Deputy Chairperson of Pujehun District Council, expressed gratitude on behalf of the council for the valuable engagement conducted by Health Alert. Palma reiterated the council’s dedication to enhancing service delivery and urged other civil society organizations to organize similar engagements, thereby equipping citizens to respond effectively to potential disease outbreaks.

Musa Sesay from the Social Mobilization Pillar at the District Health Management Team commended Health Alert for their preparedness in tackling disease outbreaks. Additionally, Mamawa Kailai, District Mammy Queen, extended thanks to Health Alert Sierra Leone for their educational efforts in COVID-19 response and other emergencies. Kailai urged other NGOs to continue similar engagements to ensure inclusivity and uphold the sustainable development goals.

It’s important to note that Health Alert Sierra Leone received funding from the African Health Budget Network to support their initiatives.

This engagement signifies a collaborative effort toward community readiness and effective response strategies in the face of health emergencies within Pujehun District and beyond.