Sierra Leone Joins Global Effort! Health Stakeholders Trained in Climate-Based Early Warning Systems

The Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Agency, in partnership with the Institute of Health Modelling and Climate Solutions (IMACS) and the Task Force for Global Health, has conducted a training session for national stakeholders on a climate-informed early warning and response system in Sierra Leone.

Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Public Health, Dr. Alie Wurie, said climate change is “no longer a distant threat—it is already a reality,” citing a rise in malaria cases during the rainy season. He emphasized that early warning systems remain the most effective way to address climate-related health challenges and called for stronger data collection that includes the experiences of rural communities.

Director of Environmental Health, Dr. Doris Bah, echoed his concerns, commending the Minister of Health’s leadership since COP28. She stressed that prevention is better than cure and urged stakeholders to work collaboratively to reduce the impact of climate-related health risks.

The training is part of the Ministry’s commitment to advancing universal health coverage through climate health Early Warning System (EWS) initiatives