Sierra Leone News

The National School of Midwifery, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, sworn-in 55 newly qualified midwifes on 18 February 2012. The mid-wifes were awarded certificates after completing their training for 18 months in midwifery. The certificates were awarded by Mrs Annerieke Owen-Huisman, wife of the US Ambassador to Sierra Leone.

The World Health Organization and the United Nations Foundation undertook a joint mission to Sierra Leone as part of the measles partnership advocacy. The objectives of the mission were to raise awareness among local authorities and partners on the Measles Initiative and the current challenges for achieving the measles pre-elimination goal in Africa by 2012, assess preparedness for the campaign and make recommendations for acceleration of activities and support local resource mobilization to finance part of the operational costs of the campaign.

The Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Roads Transport Authority (SLRTA), Dr Sarah Bendu, on Thursday 9 February paid a courtesy call on the WHO Representative in Sierra Leone, Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu. The purpose of Dr Bendu's visit was to discuss road safety which she described as a "major challenge facing the public".

In this Issue
1. Harmonization of Partners Financial Arrangement
2. Assessment of Nutrition Interventions in the Western Area
3. Launch of a Partnership for Safe Medicines Initiative
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Harmonization and Alignment of Development Partners Financial Management Arrangements
Background

Sierra Leone commemorated World AIDS Day 2011 on 1 December on a theme “Getting to zero new infection by 2015” with the campaign slogan, „Believe it! Do it!. The Day is commemorated every year to heighten awareness, promote the existing available services, advocate for positive attitudes towards people living with the disease as well as to reflect and renew commitments on the fight against HIV and AIDS.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) in partnership with its stakeholders organized a two-day retreat from December 15 to 16, 2011. The retreat brought together key stakeholders under MoHS leadership to review and agree on key policy areas of focus in the medium-term as provided for by the country compact.

Government of Sierra Leone and Health partners on 19 December 2011 signed the Country Compact which was witnessed by His Excellency the President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma. In His statement, the President thanked the health sector for their commitment to work in a more coordinated manner to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

Dr Wondi Alemu, WHO Representative handed over various items worth US$600,000 to Hon Minister of Health & Sanitation, Mrs Zainab Bangura on behalf of the WHO Director General, Dr Margaret Chan and the Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo on 19 March 2012. The Representative stated that WHO has prioritized building capacity of MoHS to take owner-ship of its programmes thereby ensuring strengthened and sustained health system for better health outcomes in the country. He assured WHO's continued support to improve the country's health indicators.

Directorate of Drug and Medical Supplies in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation held a technical stakeholders consensus meeting from 11-12 January 2012 to further deliberate on the draft National Medicines Policy, National Essential Medicines Lists, Standard Treatment Guidelines, and National Formulary. Updating of the Na-tional Medicines Policy and its component documents and their sub-sequent implementation seek to strengthen pharmaceutical care de-livery in the country.