Health Alert Sierra Leone

06/07/2025

JONAS GHAI rep from US storms Sierra Leone Parliament and was highly welcomed by members of the Parliamentary Caucus on immunization.

27/06/2025

*Health Alert Sierra Leone in partnership with the Ministry of Health Hold a National FP Stock Review Meeting*

Health Alert Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has successfully convened a one-day National Family Planning (FP) Stock Review Meeting at the Christian Health Association of Sierra Leone (CHASL) Hall in Freetown Friday 27th June 2025.

The meeting brought together stakeholders from key FP service delivery points, development partners, and civil society organizations to assess the state of family planning commodities across 15 health facilities supported under the Youth for Health project. Operating in the districts of Kambia, Port Loko, and Western Rural, the project has made notable strides in expanding youth-friendly FP access and awareness.

Key presentations included:
- A compelling overview of the Youth for Health initiative, showcasing its impact on adolescent reproductive health and community engagement.
- A detailed stock status report revealing critical insights into commodity availability, including alarming gaps in supply and distribution across participating facilities.

Discussions laid bare persistent challenges plaguing the FP supply chain ranging from intermittent stockouts, limited last-mile distribution capacity, and weak data reporting systems. Participants collectively emphasized the urgent need for improved coordination mechanisms, enhanced forecasting, and sustained government investment to strengthen the supply chain and avoid service disruptions.

This consultative dialogue concluded with a renewed commitment from stakeholders to leverage data-driven strategies and foster accountability at all levels of the FP ecosystem, ensuring that no woman or girl is left behind due to preventable stockouts

©️ *HEALTH ALERT ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATIONS DESK*

27/06/2025

*Youth for Health Project Closes with a Call for Sustained Action*

Freetown, Sierra Leone 26th June 2025

Marie Stopes Sierra Leone and Health Alert marked the official conclusion of the EU-funded Youth for Health Project with a close-out dinner held at Brookfields Hotel, New England Ville. The event brought together key partners and stakeholders who played pivotal roles in the project’s design, implementation, and oversight.

*A Vision for Youth-Centered Health Access*

The project, which focused on advancing reproductive health and family planning services for youth and adolescents, including those with disabilities and special needs, has been hailed as a significant step toward inclusive, youth-friendly health systems. Through community outreach, capacity building, and multisectoral collaboration, the initiative empowered young people with accurate information, access to services, and platforms to raise their voices.

*Partners in Progress*

In attendance were representatives from:
- Marie Stopes Sierra Leone and Health Alert lead implementers
- Ministry of Health (Reproductive Health and Family Planning Directorate)
- National Secretariat on the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy and Child Marriage (NSRTPCM)
- Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA)
- District Health Management Teams and District Councils from Kambia, Port Loko, and Western Rural
- Youth representatives and adolescent champions

Looking Ahead: Local Ownership & Sustainability

In their remarks, the Executive Directors of both implementing organizations emphasized the project’s achievements and the urgent need to sustain its gains beyond donor funding. Stakeholders were urged to take ownership of the outcomes and prioritize continued access to inclusive reproductive health services for adolescents and marginalized youth.

20/06/2025

*HEALTH ALERT SIERRA LEONE AND PARTNERS CONCLUDE CIVIL SOCIETY SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY FORUMS ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN KAMBIA, PORT LOKO, AND WESTERN AREA RURAL*

Health Alert Sierra Leone, in collaboration with key civil society partners, has successfully concluded a series of Social Accountability Forums under the Youth for Health (Y4H) project. Held from June 18–20, 2025, across Kambia, Port Loko, and Western Area Rural Districts, these forums marked a significant milestone in advancing youth-led advocacy for reproductive health and family planning.

Launched in 2022, the Y4H initiative has focused on empowering young people to lead efforts that promote access to reproductive health services, challenge harmful social norms, and foster open dialogue around family planning. The forums provided a space for community leaders, civil society actors, and young advocates to reflect on project achievements, surface persistent challenges, and co-develop locally driven solutions.

A key outcome of the convenings was the development of community-based action plans and commitments, ensuring ownership and continuity of the project beyond its donor-funded phase. Discussions emphasized sustaining youth leadership, strengthening referral pathways, and ensuring inclusive participation in reproductive health decision-making at the grassroots level.

As the project enters its sustainability phase, Health Alert Sierra Leone reaffirmed its commitment to equipping communities—especially youth—with the tools, knowledge, and voice to drive forward sexual and reproductive health rights in Sierra Leone.

*HEALTH ALERT ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION DESK*

06/06/2025

*SierraLeone Establised a National Cucus for Health and Immunization Financing*

Health Alert Sierra Leone has convened its first inaugural meeting with Ten (10) Members of Parliament forming a *Country-Level Caucus for Sustainable Health Financing and Immunization* Thursday 5th June, 2025 at the Council of Churches Sierra Leone (CCSL) Hall, Kingharman road Freetown.

The objective of this meeting was to discuss the *Terms of Reference (TOR)* for the effective functioning of the Caucus. This Parliamentary Caucus will serve as a platform of Champions to Advocate for increased Domestic Financing for Health and Immunization in Sierra Leone, and the project is funded by GAVI through GHAI.

Forming part of the membership of this cucus are parliamentarians from various committees, including but not limited to the health, finance, gender and children's affairs, agriculture Etal.
Ministry of Health, finance ministry, civil society organizations, development partners, faith-based organizations, and the media are also integral in this first ever cucus.

The road to Sustainable Health Financing and immunization is just more than clearer with such a timely and vibrant structure.

©️ *Health Alert Advocacy and Communications Desk*

05/06/2025

*Health Alert Sierra Leone and WASH-Net* has today convened its first inaugural meeting with Ten (10) Members of Parliament forming a *Country-Level Caucus for Sustainable Health Financing and Immunization* The objective of this meeting was to discuss the *Terms of Reference (TOR)* for the effective functioning of the Caucus. This Parliamentary Caucus will serve as a platform of Champions to Advocate for increased Domestic Financing for Health and Immunization in Sierra Leone and the project is funded by GAVI through GHAI.

05/06/2025

*Health Alert Sierra Leone and WASH-Net* has today convened its first inaugural meeting with Ten (10) Members of Parliament forming a *Country-Level Caucus for Sustainable Health Financing and Immunization* The objective of this meeting was to discuss the *Terms of Reference (TOR)* for the effective functioning of the Caucus. This Parliamentary Caucus will serve as a platform of Champions to Advocate for increased Domestic Financing for Health and Immunization in Sierra Leone and the project is funded by GAVI through GHAI.

05/06/2025

24/05/2025

Health for Every District Starts with Smart Financing. Coverage for immunization and primary health care remains low in several districts across Sierra Leone, including Karene, Falaba, Kenema, Western Area Rural, and Bombali.

Through dedicated Domestic Resource Mobilization (DRM) workshops, Health Alert and WASHNet are equipping Local Council and DHMT officials with tools to boost domestic health financing and ensure services reach more people

Thank you to and for supporting this critical work to build stronger, more resilient local health systems.

23/05/2025

*HEALTH ALERT ENDED A DAY FAMILY PLANNING STOCK HARMONIZATION MEETINGS IN PORTLOKO AND KAMBIA DISTRICT*

In following up on the status of family planning uptake in the ten (10) Youth 4 Health project facilities in Portloko and Kambia districts, Health Alert Sierra Leone has on Thursday 22nd May, 2025 met with the leadership of the District Health Management Teams in the aforementioned districts.

The outcome of these meetings suggests that despite a few challenges, there is huge improvement in terms of adolescents and youth accessing family planning commodities in the facilities and the issue of stockout is swiftly addressed whenever it surfaces.

There are little or no reports of stock out of commodities in all project facilities except when a facility fails to report on time or fails to request stock needed for the time being.

To address this, the leadership, especially in Portloko DHMT, emphasizes regular in-charges meetings and supervisions in the various Pheriferal Health Units (PHUs)

Kambia district, which was known for less family planning uptake as a result of religious and cultural barriers, is now a case study of demand for commodities as both traditional and some religious leaders are now champions of family planning.

END.

©️ *HEALTH ALERT ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION UNIT*

13/05/2025

*The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Health Alert Sierra Leone, Convenes a Strategic Workshop to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Through Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Sierra Leone*

With support from Marie Stopes and co-funded by the European Union through the Youth 4 Health project, Health Alert Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Health has convened a day high-level workshop on “Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) through the Lens of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)” at the Freetown City Council Hall, Tuesday 13th May, 2025.

This event brought together healthcare professionals, civil society representatives, and policymakers to examine the critical intersection of AMR and adolescent health.

The chairman, *Dr. Moses Gbatima,* Directorate & Chief Pharmacist at the Ministry of Health. In his opening remarks, he posed a pivotal question: “Why does this meeting really matter?” prompting participants to reflect on the urgency of integrating AMR strategies within adolescent health frameworks.

*Pharm. Yusuf Marah,* Manager of Policy and Governance, outlined the workshop’s main objectives, ranging from understanding the misuse of antibiotics in adolescent SRHR to fostering inter-sectoral collaboration for evidence-based interventions.

Key technical presentations were delivered on tackling “Antibiotic Misuse and Adolescent SRHR."” emphasising the multifaceted nature of adolescent health, touching on:

Barriers to access for maternal health and STI treatment.

The dangers of self-medication and incomplete antibiotic courses.

Drivers of misuse, including stigma, over-the-counter availability, and lack of youth-friendly services.

*Key Findings Included:*

48.2% of STI cases (including chlamydia and gonorrhea) occur in individuals aged 15–24.

Many adolescents self-treat using informal vendors, increasing risks of antibiotic resistance and complications.

09/05/2025

*HEALTH ALERT UPDATES MEDIA ON DOMESTIC RESOURCE MOBILIZATION AND Y4H PROJECT JOURNEY*

Thursday 8th May 2025.

A press conference was held at Health Alert New Head office to provide updates on the *Youth 4 Health (Y4H) Project* , which began in 2022 and is set to conclude next month. The event commenced with an *opening prayer and a statement from the Director of Health Alert(Mr Victor Koroma),* who welcomed all media personnel to their *new office space at 1 Blackhall Road* , following their relocation from *Dundas Street.* He further stated that "The purpose of the press conference is to inform the media about *the progress and impact of the ongoing Y4H initiative* , particularly the efforts focused on *Strengthening Adolescent Health Advocacy Through Domestic Resource Mobilization"*

According to the Programs Manager, he stated that "In a significant effort to improve *adolescent and youth reproductive and sexual health services* , local authorities and health sector leaders have intensified *advocacy for sustainable funding* to support critical programs addressing youth health needs."

He further stated "The project is Implemented by *Marie Stopes Sierra Leone (MSSL) and Health Alert* , with *co-funding from the European Union,* the initiative focuses on *Domestic Resource Mobilization Advocacy* , ensuring that adolescent health services are integrated into *district budgets* for long-term sustainability.

Recognizing the growing challenges faced by young people in accessing *sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services* , the initiative trained *57 senior district council officials and health leaders* from *Port Loko, Kambia, and Western Rural districts* in *policy advocacy* . These leaders are expected to *drive policy inclusion and secure long-term funding* for adolescent health programs in their respective regions.