By Kemo Cham
Despite its exemplary performance in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sierra Leone must be vigilant against the emergence of a second wave of the viral disease, experts and officials have warned.
The warning comes as the country celebrated the International One Health Day on Tuesday, November 3.
Sheku Bangura, Deputy Minister of Finance and Deputy Interim Coordinator of the National COVID-19 Emergence Response Center (NaCOVERC), said at the event held at Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel that while Sierra Leone demonstrated a strong leadership with the proactive action taken by President Julius Maada Bio and the subsequent response efforts, which has translated into the near containment of the virus, the ongoing second wave of the pandemic in Europe should serve as a warning.
Bangura explained that the data on the pandemic in Sierra Leone was encouraging, but he warned that the nature of the virus meant that there could be no time to relent, especially as the country tries to open up and with the approaching festive season.
More surveillance and more testing is needed, he said.
The One Health platform is a collaborative approach, bringing together multiple disciplines, working locally, nationally, and globally, to attain optimal health for people, animals and the environment. It is based on the concept that the health of humans, animals and that of the environment are interconnected.
In other words, some diseases are transmitted from animals to humans – zoonotic diseases.
This year’s commemoration marks the fifth edition of the celebration of the International One Health Day. It is held on the theme: ‘One health approach for COVID-19.’
“Zoonotic diseases have become increasingly prevalent in the world and they present real existential threat to life and livelihoods. They are complex. And in a world with weak global leadership, the theme is timely,” said Bangura.
Tuesday’s ceremony was chaired by Rev. Dr. Thomas T. Samba, Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), who told the audience that as a nation Sierra Leone was happy to join other nations to celebrate day, noting the country has “vivid reasons” to do so. He pointed out Sierra Leone’s experience with Ebola and other zoonotic diseases, including Lassa Fever, as well the threats posed by other viruses recently discovered in the country.
According to Dr Samba, One Health means that people have to view health in a comprehensive and holistic manner, encompassing human, animal and environmental health. Within this framework, he said, there is the need to embrace the concept of multi-sectoral collaboration.
“The whole idea is to ensure that animals, humans, plants and environmental health issues can be addressed on a common platform, this way humanity can thrive and development can take place,” he stated.
Foday M. Jaward, Minister of Environment, emphasized the importance of the One Health approach in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ebola and COVID-19 justify the need to establish such collaboration,” he said, adding: “Together we fought and defeated Ebola and together we will defeat the COVID-19 menace.”
In his keynote address, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie, Minister of Health and Sanitation, said Sierra Leone’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is a demonstration of its lesson learnt dealing with Ebola. He also highlighted the actions taken by the Bio administration, geared towards strengthening the health system, including the formulation and launching of the National Action Plan for Health Security. He also cited improvement made in the country’s laboratory capacity and training of personnel.
“It is no mean feat for you to go through all what Sierra Leone went through and still we are under 3000 cases (of COVID-19)… That tells you that our level of preparedness was strong and political willingness is strong,” he said.
“We now have to build on what we have achieved,” he added.
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