By Sulaiman Jalloh

In keeping with his policy statement a few days in an address to the nation on the Kush, President Julius Maada Bio has appointed Brigadier General Prof. Foday Sahr as National Coordinator of the National Task Force on Drug and Substance Abuse in the country.

In a press release from State House dated Tuesday, April 9, 2024, Prof. Sahr is to leverage his expertise to coordinate efforts across ministries and sectors, prioritizing the key pillars outlined by President Bio in his national address on April 4^th this year where he declared a national health emergency on drugs and substance abuse in the country. The key pillars include prevention, care and treatment, social support, law enforcement, and community engagement.

“Prof. Sahr brings extensive experience from governance to security and medical expertise to this new role, especially in coordinating and mobilizing multi-stakeholder groups as demonstrated during his leadership with Sierra Leone’s Ebola and COVID-19 responses” his appointment letter reads, while recognizing his medical knowledge as microbiologist, his appointment symbolizes his significant contributions during the West African Ebola outbreak.

The release further states that, as a technical Lead for the COVID-19 Response, he had played a key role in developing internationally recognized protocols, resulting in one of the lowest mortality rates globally.

Prof. Sahr also served as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone and Surgeon General of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Public Health agency.

“His appointment underscores President Bio’s commitment to combatting drug and substance abuse and promoting public health” emphasizes the release. According to the president, he is confident that the leadership of Sahr will ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing the drugs problem in the African country, pointing this will pave the way for tangible progress and transformative impact in communities.

Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, April 12th, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)