Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) will on Friday, 15 July, 2022 officially take over COVID 19 functions from the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre (NaCOVERC).

The Ministry of Health made this disclosure in a press release issued today, 27 June 2022, in response to the global trends of COVID-19.
This will mark the conclusion of a 6-month deliberative process.

“The Ministry of Heath and Sanitation wishes to thank the NaCOVERC staff and all our partners for the excellent services rendered to the nation over the past two years,” the ministry stated.

“The threat of COVID-19 remains a major concern to Sierra Leone and the world at large. By transitioning the response to the pandemic to the MOHS, it is anticipated that COVID-19 services will be seamlessly integrated into our routine healthcare delivery services. The knowledge and experience acquired, the investments made, and the assets available from the COVID-19 response would now be used to not only respond to COVID-19 but to also continue to strengthen our healthcare system.”

MoHS noted that following the transition, every effort will be made to maintain national resilience while coordinating and collaborating with all stakeholders.

“The MOHS will continue to operate an Incident Management system with an active Situation Room and all the relevant programmatic pillars,” they added.

“As we rebuild resilient health systems in the middle of a pandemic, we want to underscore a whole-of-government approach that includes all line-Ministries working with our development partners, and civil society to ensure that all of our pre-pandemic gains in the health sector are not lost” said Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health and Sanitation.

The Ministry further reminded the public that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet, adding that citizens should all continue wearing a face mask as appropriate, maintain hand hygiene, practice social distancing, and be fully vaccinated.