Participants to the Bi-annual Review Meeting @FAO

Preventing the spread of infectious diseases and high-impact zoonoses is critical for safeguarding public health and ensuring food security in Sierra Leone. To address these challenges, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Global Health Security (GHS) project, hosted the Bi-annual Surveillance Review Meeting from 3 to 5 June 2024 in Bo district. 

This gathering brought together key stakeholders, including District Livestock Officers, District Surveillance Focal Points, District Agricultural Officers, representatives from the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute, Njala University, Frontline In-Service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) graduates, and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), USAID, and FAO.

Participants at the meeting evaluated the performance of the Integrated Animal Disease Surveillance and Reporting system (IADSR) and the Event Mobile Application (EMA-i). They identified successes and weaknesses, shared good practices, reviewed the outcomes of the nationwide peste des petits ruminants (PPR) vaccination conducted in January 2024 and disseminated findings of ISAVET Cohort 1 held in 2022.
Key recommendations to enhance data quality, timeliness, and completeness in disease surveillance and reporting systems were developed, aiming to improve the implementation of IADSR and EMA-i across the country.

“Accurate data is essential for informed decision-making in animal health management,” said Dr. Rene Bessin, FAO ECTAD Country Team Leader. “Collaboration among One Health institutions and partners and continuous capacity building are key to strengthening the national surveillance and response capabilities for infectious diseases.” said Dayo Spencer-Walters, USAID's Global Health Security (GHS) Advisor. “Enhancing livestock production and productivity is key to securing food and livelihoods hence vital in the realization of the Feed Salone Programme” said Mr. Philip Ganna Conteh, the Assistant Chief Agricultural Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. 

The Bi-annual Surveillance Review Meeting highlighted the progress and challenges in Sierra Leone’s animal health sector. FAO, in partnership with USAID, remains committed to supporting the country’s efforts to enhance disease surveillance, improve food security, and safeguard livelihoods.