Tuesday 3rd November was the International One Health Day and in Sierra Leone. It was the fifth annual celebration that took place at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel as it was celebrated as one family in Sierra Leone.
Giving the keynote address, the Minister of Health, Dr Alpha Wurie, said today Sierra Leone is celebrating the One Health Day as a family between ministries, donors and agencies that have come together to improve the public health system in the country.
“In 2014 when the Ebola broke out, we did not have the capacity of knowledge to fight the virus, we had to rely on foreign assistance to help us. But by 2016 when the country was free of the Ebola, the government started putting in place the machinery and human resource that has helped us today to overcome the corona virus with less than 100 deaths and just over 2,000 infected people. Today we have three quality laboratories and over 100 Epidemiologists to combat these public health diseases,” Dr Wurie informed his audience.
He said the one family of the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Environment are now working together to make sure that the humans, animals and the environment be together as a family without the humans not destroying the other two.
He said One Health Day answers the urgent need for a One Health trans-disciplinary approach towards solving today’s critical global health challenges. It is a timely initiative that gives scientists and advocates a powerful voice for moving beyond current provincial approaches to emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, environmental pollution, and many other problems, to a holistic default way of doing business.
The Minister of Environment, Professor Jaward, said this was initiated in 2016 by the One Health Commission, the One Health Platform, and the One Health Initiative Team. International One Health Day is officially celebrated around the world every year on November 3rd.
He said the theme of this year’s celebration is COVID-19 and One Health approach, which he said is very appropriate as ONS, EPA, MAF, and MOHS are all in this together in the one health platform.
Professor Jaward said all these parties came together to work as a team after the Ebola outbreak and the result they have had till now is positive, which shows that when the actual people are working together the result will definitely be positive.
It was the same statement given by the Interim Coordinator of NARCOVERC, Mr. Sheku Bangura who is the deputy Minister of Finance II.
He said the one health platform has been very important in the fight against zoonotic disease, which shows that 75% of all viruses come from animals.
“Because of that we have to take good care of our animals and the environment so that we all can live in peace without harming each other.”
Monica of USAID handing over equipment donated to NARCOVERC
He said, as the country has done so much in combating the corona virus, it is important that Sierra Leoneans continue to practice social distancing, wearing of masks and washing of hands so that it can be eliminated once and for all in the country. The FAO representative said this years’s celebration is especially poignant in the face of the COVID pandemic. One health, he said, is being recognized and embraced as needed now more than ever.
“Despite the threats posed by COVID, we gather here today to reaffirm our commitment to supporting a sustainable global health security. FAO and partners have been very instrumental in building a capacity of the country to attain this very important goal.”
Monica from USAID said One Health Day raises awareness about the One Health approach to complex health problems involving people, animals, and the environment. Understanding and addressing these essential connections—taking a One Health approach—is critical to secure basic needs, to respond to current disease outbreaks, and to prevent future pandemics.
“One Health Day has grown into a sustainable platform for One Health supporters around the world to educate, advocate and sensitize communities about One Health approach and One Health issues. The Government of Sierra Leone embraced, recognized and formalized the One Health Platform, and USAID congratulates the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Environment Protection Agency, the Office of National Security and other government ministries and agencies on this effort to strengthen health security in Sierra Leone through the multi-sec Remarks ONE HEALTH DAY November 3rd, 2020.
The USAID representative averred that COVID-19 has been another sobering reminder that they need a whole-of-society, multi sectoral perspective to address health security threats. The One Health Approach provides an opportunity to galvanize all sectors to respond and control COVID-19 under the Government of Sierra Leone leadership.
“Today, Sierra Leone is joining the world to celebrate the One Health Day. Reflecting on the lives lost, and all those affected by infectious disease, presents to us the opportunity to renew our shared commitment to work collaboratively through a One Health approach, with the vision to better address this and other serious health challenges that impact the stability and security of the people of Sierra Leone, the West Africa region, and the world.”
Monica said the U.S. Government and USAID are committed to continuing their strong partnership with Sierra Leone on the Global Health Security Agenda, and they are happy to participate with Sierra Leone today in the celebration of One Health Day, 2020.
She congratulated the Government of Sierra Leone for leading the effort to again put One Health in action.
“We are also taking this opportunity to highlight USAID support to the NaCOVERC Risk Communication and Social Mobilization Pillar, in the spirit of One Health! With COVID-19 supplemental funding, USAID implementing partner, Breakthrough Action, supported the GoSL’s COVID-19 response with activities requested by the RCSM Pillar. USAID and Breakthrough ACTION provided operational and training support to the national and district-level emergency operation center (EOCs) to strengthen coordination and collaboration with partners on RCSM and create the linkages needed to facilitate communication and reporting between district- and national-level E0Cs.”
Breakthrough ACTION, she said, procured and will support the installation of items such as laptop computers, accessories, video conferencing supplies/virtual communication platforms, software, and digital cameras for use by RCSM national personnel and District Social Mobilization Coordinators in district E0Cs. These items will help to enhance the turnaround time of the RCSM pillar and improve the effectiveness of the overall response.
Dr Klare Heyden of GIZ said they can still remember the devastating consequences of the Ebola epidemic in 2014. The government, she said, in collaboration with partners, have made enormous accomplishments to improve the surveillance and response system.
“These measures brought immense benefit in the COVID fight for the entire country. After Ebola awareness raising most of the newly emerging human infectious disease of 75% originate from animals and humans and animal interaction in the ecosystem.”
She said, through synergies between their health project Health systems strengthening and Epidemic Prevention II and the Regional (RPPP) projects, together with other HDP and with the leadership of the MOHS, she strongly believes that the pandemic preparedness and control with the OH approach will be strengthened and increase survival in the region.