The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) through the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) in collaboration with the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the African Coalition for Diseases Surveillance in May 2024.

The Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone, Dr. Charles Senessie, stated that the training is vital for the capacity for crisis preparedness and response in Sierra Leone and the African continent. The World Health Organization is collaborating with Members States to strengthen the regional and national capacity for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response in Sierra Leone and the African continent.

During the official ceremony on the 24th June, 2024, the Deputy Minister of Health of Sierra Leone, Dr. Charles Senessie, stated that the training is geared to prepare and equip health workers for emergency preparedness and response in Sierra Leone and the African continent. The World Health Organization is collaborating with Member States to strengthen the regional and national capacity for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response in Sierra Leone and the African continent.

Furthermore, the second phase of the training, which occurred on the 3rd August, 2024, at the Peace and Mozambique stadiums, on the 21st July, ended on the 3rd August and featured an evaluation by the FreeTown authorities to strengthen the preparedness and responsiveness for all emergencies and emergencies in the country.

Proffer Adelola Olayinka, WHO’s AVoHC-SURGE Consultant based in Brazil, stated this medium that: “Sierra Leone is the 20th country in the continent to have completed this training with a turnover of 72 Sierra Leoneans-including 25 women-who successfully completed the training and are geared towards the African Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Response (ACER). She asserted that Africa CDC and WHO are targeting 3000 responders in the African continent to serve as standby emergency responders and for surge capacity reinforcement.

The second phase of the training which occurred at the Peace and Mozambique stadiums in the 21st July and ended on the 3rd August 2024 in the capital city of Freetown, around the Pentagonal citadel of Africa Roundtable, was addressed by the Minister of Health, Dr. Charles Senessie and WHO’s AVoHC-SURGE. Whilst the Surge is a reference to WHO’s initiative in Strengthening Unity and Health Security Collabolration in Strengthening of Health Security and Preparation for Physical and Emotional responses to Human Emergencies- SURGE.

WHO and Africa CDC flew in facilitators and experts from Brazil, Nigeria, Lesotho, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and some from Sierra Leone to train the participants on different disaster preparedness and emergency management, vaccinations, front-line operations and protected communities, disastres/outbreaks, and humanitarian emergencies skills.