GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE
ONE HEALTH PLATFORM
Press Release
Sierra Leone Commemorates International One Health Day-3rd November, 2020
FREETOWN, 3rd November, 2020
The Sierra Leone One Health Platform joins the global movement to celebrate the fifth annual International One Health Day.
This year One Health Day celebrations are particularly touching. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, One Health is being acknowledged and integrated as needed now more than ever before. On the zoonotic diseases front, the public is beginning to appreciate that we are now living what the global One Health Community has been teaching and warning about for over 15 years. It is more crucial now than ever to make One Health thinking and acting the default way of doing business at all levels.
“We are particularly happy to join this global effort to educate Sierra Leoneans on the significance of the International One Health Day” said Dr.JuldehJalloh, Vice President of Sierra Leone.
One Health Day offers a chance for experts and the community to join together in One Health education and awareness including sharing stories about One Health in action. Communication, coordination, and collaboration among partners working in animal, human, and environmental health as well as other relevant partners are an essential part of the One Health approach. Working together allows us to have the biggest impact on improving health for people, animals, and our shared environment.
Although many people may not fully understand their role in One Health, but everyone has a role to play, including physicians; veterinarians; pet owners; policymakers; disease detectives; laboratorians; farmers; law enforcement; and many more!
It is important to note that as we have seen with the coronavirus pandemic, a disease that was spread from an animal to a human can then be spread quickly and easily from human to human reaching nearly every country on earth. The pandemic has impacted so many aspects of life, highlighting the importance of a response that includes coordination, communication, and collaboration across all sectors and partners, from government and communities.
This One Health Day, we invite you to think about your work or lifestyle and share how it fits into a One Health approach.
For more information, please contact:
Harold Thomas, Ministry of Health & Sanitation, haroldthomas2007@yahoo.com, Tel: +232 76 602460
FatmataBakarrSesay, Environment Protection Agency, fatimabakarr.sesay@gmail.comTel: +232 76137440
Mohamed Conteh, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry , ahmadmc2007@yahoo.comTel: +23276497412
“This printing of this article is made possible with support from Breakthrough ACTION through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).”
