The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) conducted diarrhoeal diseases, including cholera Case Management Training of Trainers workshop in Freetown from 25-28 September 2012 as part of the scaling up response to cholera outbreak.
The purpose of the intensive training was to build capacity of district supervisors and trainers from all the districts to serve as trainers of health facility staff in their respective districts. This will contribute to strengthening national capacity for clinical management of cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases thus ensuring sustainability.
Dr Alemu, WHO Representative informed participants that no body should die of cholera in a well functioning health facility with appropriately trained health personnel and adequate supplies of essential medicine and other medical supplies. He said “as trainers you are expected to master the acquired knowledge and skills to be able to transfer them to others”. This was reiterated by the Chief Medical Officer of the MoHS Dr Kisito Sheku Daoh who also expressed the government’s appreciation of partners’ support in responding to the ongoing cholera outbreak.

The training was supported by WHO and facilitated by physicians and epide-miologists from the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Health Protection Agency UK and WHO. The course focused on the Epidemiology and Etiology of Diarrhea Diseases, Clinical Features and Management of cholera/acute diarrheal diseases, invasive diarrhea (shigellosis and typhoid), management of sample collection in diarrhea diseases, response strategies during outbreak situations, among others. It also included practical sessions with diarrhea patients at the treatment sites.

The participants included 2 representatives from each of the 13 districts and representatives from the Directorate of Disease Prevention and Control at the national level. The cadre of staff included National and District Surveillance Officers, Community Health Officers, Nurses and Nurse Educators. Certificates were awarded to the participants at the end of the training.

MOHS with support of partners including WHO is spearheading the response to one of the worst cholera outbreak in 15 years in the country. The training is therefore seen as a strategy to scale up case management of the ongoing outbreak and future response activities

Ministry of Health Concludes Cholera Case management Training of Trainers Workshop

For More Information contact:

World Health Organization, 21 A and B Riverside Drive, off King Harman Road, Freetown

Phone : 232-22-233565 , +232-76-77787

e-mail: whosl [at] sl.afro.who.int

Website www.whosierraleone.org