By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
President Julius Maada Bio has created a scientific body tasked with advising him on situations of emergencies.
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Group for Emergencies (STAGE) comprises 12 people, drawn from diverse fields of studies. Those who make up the list are experts based locally and internationally.
A statement from State House last Thursday stated that the STAGE will be responsible to provide “real time scientific advice, insights from research and state of the art technological interventions for the consideration of the HE the President and the Government of Sierra Leone.”
The body is the first of its kind to be established by any Sierra Leone government. In the coming months, their work will be crucial in shaping the country’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Part of the list of appointed experts are renowned scientists, academics and medical practitioners based in Sierra Leone and abroad.
The list include Dr Pradis Sabeti, a Geneticist from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Professor Osman Sankoh, the Statistician General and Chief Executive Officer of Statistics Sierra Leone, and Dr Austin Demby of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
The list also include Dr Nellie Bell of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
The body is expected to serve for a period of 18 months and its work will be voluntary, the statement from the presidency said.
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