(A) BACKGROUND

A multi-sectoral taskforce was set up to plan this year’s World Health Day activities under the theme “Save Lives. Make Hospitals Safe in Emergencies.’’ The committee was chaired by the Programme Manager Health Education and Promotion. The taskforce held several meetings to plan for this event.

(B) COMMEMORATIVE ACTIVITIES

1. RADIO AND TELEVISION DISCUSSION PROGRAMMES: Radio discussion programme on “Save Lives. Make Hospitals Safe in Emergencies’’ was aired over the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Services on 5th and repeated on the 7th April. Panelists for the discussion programme were drawn from the Office of National Security, Ministry of Health and Sanitation (Directorate of Hospitals and Laboratory) and World Health Organization. The programme was moderated by the Manager, Health Education in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. A second radio discussion took place on the 9th of April on UN Radio. Panelists for this discussion were drawn from the Office of National Security, Sierra Leone Fire Force, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and WHO.

Panelists for the television programme were the same as those listed above and the television programme was broadcasted on the 7th of April.

2. AIRING OF STATEMENTS: statements made by the Honorable Minister of Health and Sanitation and the WHO Regional Director for Africa (read in the studio by WHO Country Representative), were recorded and aired over the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service radio and broadcasted on television on 7th April.

The WHO Regional Director in his statement expounded on the quantum of emergencies that have occurred in the African Region and stated the necessary actions that country’s can take to make health facilities safe during emergencies thus saving lives. The Minister of Health and Sanitation explained the theme in his statement and stated the need for a multi-sectorial approach in making hospitals safe during emergencies. He praised the effort of Hospital staff during the recent fire disaster in the East-end of Freetown.

3. SYMPOSIUM: The main highlight of the World Health Day was the symposium held on 7th April to raise awareness of the public on the theme. Participants at the symposium included health workers, Fire Force workers, Red Crossers, staff from NGOs and Civil Society Organizations, members of the press and staff from international organizations.

The opening ceremony was chaired by the Chief Medical Officer. Statements were made by the WHO Representative and the Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society. The programme was declared opened by the Honorable Minister of Health.

The following presentations were made during the symposium:

• The role of health facilities in emergencies: Director of Hospitals and Laboratories
• The role of the Office of National Security in prevention and management of emergencies: Director of Disaster Management.
• The role of Fire Force in emergencies: Chief Fire Officer
• The role of the police in emergencies: Assistant Inspector General of Police

The presentations triggered lively discussions and the following were suggested as a way forward:

• Establish national taskforce for emergency response and develop a response model
• Strengthen coordination and communication during emergencies
• Establish emergency communication channel
• Capacity building of emergency staff (health workers, Red Crossers, Police, Fire Fighters) to effectively tackle emergencies
• Strengthen transportation means for emergencies
• Protect hospitals with fire extinguishers
• Mobilization of funds to make Hospitals safe during emergencies
• Intensify community sensitization through diverse communication channels Radio, TV, Town Cries, community meetings etc.

4. DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF IEC MATERIALS: banners, T-Shirts and brochures (Regional Directors statement) were developed and distributed during the symposium. Other World Health Day IEC materials received from WHO headquarter were also distributed.

5. RADIO PROGRAMME ON WHO ACTION IN EMERGENCIES: copies of cassettes which contained an Interview with the WHO Assistant Regional Director for Africa were made and given to two national radio stations for broadcast.