News

By Kemo Cham

China is to deploy a new Ebola vaccine trial in Sierra Leone, bringing to four the number of such trials in the country.

Ad5-Ebov is a recombinant adenoviral Ebola vaccine, co-developed by the Bioengineering Institute of the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences (AMMS) and the privately owned vaccine manufacturer Tianin Casino Biotechnology Inc. This makes it a public-private partnership between the Chinese government and Casino.

By Kemo Cham

Sierra Leone is reviewing its curriculum in the training of midwives, a crucial component in the country`s effort to cut down on its discouragingly high rates of maternal and infant deaths.

The review, according to health officials, has been informed by the need to ensure quality assurance measures by producing skilled birth attendants.

By Mohamed T Massaquoi

For one month now there has been no sitting at the Pujehun Magistrate Court, the court Registrar Fayia Joshua Mansaray, has disclosed.

“It has taken complete one month without magistrate court sitting in the district headquarters town of Pujehun and over eight to nine months without sitting in Zimmi Makpele, along the Mano River Border axis,” Mr Joshua told Politico.

The situation, according to various sources in the local judicial sector, has led to frustration caused by a backlog of cases awaiting hearing.

By Kemoh Sesay  

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Ebola Respond Center (NERC) has expressed optimism in the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease in Sierra Leone, citing “progress” in the past weeks.

But the Rtd Major Alfred Palo Conteh, while addressing press men at his weekly Press Conference at the NERC Headquarters on Wednesday, also warned against complaisance. He said the last two patients discharged from the IMC EVD treatment Center in Kambia marked the end of EVD event management in that district.

By Kemo Cham 

This year`s innovation award by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been won by an amputee.

The ‘Youth Innovation Award (YIA)’, the brainchild of the UN agency, is designed to promote innovation and new technology for development initiatives, as well as provide concrete solutions for sustainable development. It is held every year during the United Nations Week in 27-28 September, under the tag Social Good Summit.

Archippus T. Sesay was named out of 750 people across Sierra Leone who participated in the competition.

By Crispina Taylor

The Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) has in a one-day forum validated its strategic work plan for 2016-2020.

The PPRC is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the activities of political parties, register, monitor and regulate their activities. The strategic plan serves as an instrument to guide the commission towards fulfilling this mandate.

By Politico Writer

Mr. Parminder S. Brar has been unveiled as new Country Manager for the World Bank in Sierra Leone.

He resumes work effective October 1, 2015, a statement from the bank`s office in Freetown notes.

Parminder, an Indian, replaces Francis Ato Brown, Ghanaian, who served in the office for the last three years.