By Kadijatu Bangura | D.S Reporter
FREETOWN — Sierra Leone on Tuesday wrapped up a three-day national simulation exercise to test how ready the country is to detect and respond to an Ebola outbreak.
The drill, held from August 12 to 14 in Western Area Urban and Kenema District, was led by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Public Health Agency and health partners.
Health officials say the exercise was not in response to any outbreak. Sierra Leone currently has no reported Ebola cases. Instead, it was aimed at checking whether existing systems can spot a threat early, investigate it fast, and contain it before it spreads.
During the simulation, response teams practiced identifying suspected cases through Event-Based Surveillance and the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system. They also tested how quickly alerts move from communities to district and national levels for action.
The drill further assessed the work of Public Health Emergency Operations Centres at both district and national levels. Teams role-played coordination, information sharing, resource mobilisation and decision-making under the Incident Management System.
“These exercises are critical,” an MoH official said. “They help us find the gaps now, not when there is a real emergency.”
Kenema was chosen because of its history with Ebola, while Western Area Urban was included due to its large population and movement of people.
Officials noted that while the country remains Ebola-free, the risk of cross-border and imported cases means preparedness must be continuous.
Through the exercise, authorities say they identified areas for improvement in communication, logistics and community engagement.
The Ministry of Health and NPHA said they will work with districts, health facilities, communities and partners to strengthen those areas and keep Sierra Leone in a state of readiness.
“Our goal is simple: detect early, respond decisively, and protect lives,” the statement said.
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