By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), through its Directorate of Clinical Laboratories, has developed a national roadmap aimed at strengthening Sierra Leone’s capacity to diagnose acute febrile illnesses (AFI), marking another significant step in improving disease detection, surveillance, and emergency preparedness.
The initiative is designed to enhance the timely and accurate diagnosis and management of febrile illnesses, strengthen disease surveillance systems, promote the appropriate use of antimicrobial medicines, and bolster the country’s ability to respond effectively to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
To advance the process, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Integrated Public Health Laboratories Programme under the Directorate of Biomedical Services of the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), organised a three-day stakeholder workshop from July 29 to 31, 2026. The workshop was supported through funding from HEADA and brought together key national stakeholders and technical partners.
The primary objective of the workshop was to develop a Costed National Roadmap for the Expansion of Acute Febrile Illness Diagnostic Capacity in Sierra Leone, providing a comprehensive framework for improving laboratory services across the country.
During the sessions, participants conducted a detailed assessment of Sierra Leone’s existing AFI diagnostic system, identifying major gaps in laboratory infrastructure, diagnostic platforms, skilled human resources, biosafety and biosecurity measures, quality management systems, specimen referral networks, supply chain management, data systems, and institutional coordination.
Stakeholders also agreed on priority interventions needed to address these challenges, developed implementation timelines, assigned responsibilities to relevant institutions, estimated the financial resources required, and established mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating progress.
According to the Ministry of Health, the roadmap will serve as a strategic guide for coordinated investment and phased implementation to strengthen acute febrile illness diagnostic services nationwide. It is expected to improve access to quality diagnostic services while ensuring sustainable expansion across all levels of the health system.
The Ministry further noted that the roadmap will facilitate the safe decentralisation of appropriate diagnostic testing, strengthen collaboration between clinical services, laboratories, and disease surveillance systems, and enhance the country’s capacity for the early detection of priority and emerging infectious diseases.
Health officials believe that stronger laboratory systems are critical to improving patient care, reducing the misuse of antimicrobial medicines, and ensuring rapid responses to outbreaks before they escalate into national public health emergencies.
The development of the roadmap also aligns with Sierra Leone’s broader health sector reform agenda and international health security commitments, reinforcing the government’s determination to build a resilient health system capable of protecting communities against current and future disease threats.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 5th August 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
