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MOHS launches National Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) 20162019 Action Plan
Freetown, Nov. 4, 016 (MOHS) - The Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office, Matron Hossinatu
Koroma has officially launched the Ministry of Health and Sanitation National Infection and
Control 2016-2019 Action Plan at a ceremony held at the Hill Valley Hotel in Freetown on Friday
November 4, 2016.
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Matron Hossinatu Koroma
launching the 2016-2019 Action Plan
Deputizing the Minister of Health and Sanitation, the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer,
described the event as another drive and commitment in the Ministry’s agenda in ensuring our
health facilities are safe for both patient and health workers.
She said the Ministry in reviewing its National Health Sector Strategic Plan and the Basic
Package of Essential Health Services has included patient and Health Workers safety as the first
pillar in the implementation of its priority activities.
Cross section of the audience
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa, she reminded her audience accelerated efforts to
strengthen health systems in Sierra Leone including the establishment of a National IPC Unit in
the region, adding that it is now recognized that IPC is a universal vital component of a
comprehensive approach to patient and health care workers safely.
The working landscape of emerging infectious diseases, she maintained, has necessitated
increased awareness and attention to infection prevention and control practices.
Matron Koroma noted that a strong health system includes a culture and infection, prevention
and control structures within governments and communities to respond and manage outbreaks
and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
The government with technical support from WHO other health development partners
including stakeholders she opined have set up IPC programmes in all public health care facilities
countrywide, adding that IPC is also highlighted as one of the key priorities in the 10-24 months
Presidential Recovery Priorities Plan.
She maintained that the Action Plan will be able to develop standard procedures for treatment
including triage in IPC measures and patient transportation as well as raising medical
institutional awareness, community behavioral practices and monitoring and evaluation.
The Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer on behalf of the Ministry expressed gratitude and
appreciation to WHO, Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and other partners for the support to
the Ministry’s IPC Unit on the development of the plan.
Making her contribution on behalf of the WHO Representative, the Medical Officer
Tuberculosis, covering Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, Dr. Cornelia Hennig said the essential
frontline priority to control the Ebola outbreak helped minimize the risk of transmission of
disease among health care workers, patients and the community.
WHO Medical Officer Tuberculosis, Dr. Cornelia Hennig
She told her audience that the Ministry of Health IPC Unit has the mandate to oversee the
implementation and strengthening of IPC standards and practices in all health facilities across
the country, adding that the National Action Plan was developed as a means to foster the
implementation of the 10-24 months Presidential Recovery Plan, as well as to provide direction
for the new era of IPC programme in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Hennig reiterated WHO’s commitment to help tackle the burden of health care associated
infection as well as reduce the transmission of infectious diseases both in health care facilities
and the community.
Giving an overview of the IPC Action Plan, the National IPC Coordinator Ministry of Health and
Sanitation, Madam Nana Sesay-Kamara described her unit as a structure in Sierra Leone health
care practices breaking the chain of transmission and improves health workers safety.
National IPC Coordinator, Madam Nana Sesay-Kamara
She said they had limited knowledge on IPC practice during the outbreak that resulted to the
loss of lives of health workers and other people in communities, but that with the support from
partners they were able to contain the disease.
The composition of the IPC Plan include promotion of hand hygiene, aseptic procedures
environmental cleaning and disinfection protection of patient and health care workers,
community engagement, management of hospitals among others.
Madam Nana Sesay-Kamara also underscored the importance of monitoring IPC,
institutionalization and In-service training and water and sanitation health care services and
community ownership and accountability to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
She reiterated the need for coordination and collaboration of all partners towards achieving the
priorities of the country and make Sierra Leone a better place.
Other highlights include contributions from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC)
Representative, Mr. Hassan Benya and the Programme Manager National HIV/AIDS Programme
and Chairman for the occasion, Dr. Satie Kanneh.
Photo: Credit Kadrie Koroma
JAK/MOHS/SLENA