DOCSLIB.ORG

NCP Were Developed Using the NCSH Reference While the Text Reflects the Newer 2006 WHO Standards

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
NCP Were Developed Using the NCSH Reference While the Text Reflects the Newer 2006 WHO Standards Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) West Africa Regional CAADP Nutrition Program Development Workshop Nutrition Country Paper – Sierra Leone English Version DRAFT November 9-12, 2011 Dakar, Senegal This synthesis has been elaborated for a CAADP workshop on the integration of nutrition in National Agricultural and Food Security Investment Plan, held in Dakar, Senegal, from the 9th to the 12th November 2011. The purpose of this Nutrition Country Paper is to present key data and information required to improve nutrition in participating countries and scale up nutrition in agricultural strategies and programs. This work document has been initiated and updated by the workshop work team of the country, composed of focal points from different sectors; with the assistance of the technical piloting committee. It will be regularly updated and completed. Key policy documents to be consulted Other key documents: Please refer to the workshop material - National Sustainable Agriculture Development Plan NSADP/CAADP (2010-2030) - The National Food and Nutrition Policy - An Agenda for Change : National PRS II (2008-2012) General sources used to produce this document Sources Information Lien internet Nutrition Country Profiles http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/nutrition/profiles_by_country_en.stm FAO FAO Country profiles http://www.fao.org/countries/ FAO STAT country profiles http://faostat.fao.org/site/666/default.aspx Nutrition Country Profiles http://www.childinfo.org/profiles_974.htm UNICEF MICS: Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys http://www.childinfo.org/mics_available.html Food Security Country Profiles for 9 African Countries : Burkina Faso, Cape http://www.oecd.org/document/6/0,3746,en_38233741_38246823_41638790_1 OCDE / CILLS Verde, Chad, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal _1_1_1,00.html DHS DHS Indicators http://www.measuredhs.com/Where-We-Work/Country-List.cfm OMS Nutrition Landscape information system http://apps.who.int/nutrition/landscape/report.aspx Signed Compact / Investment plans / Stocktaking documents / Technical http://www.nepad-caadp.net/library-country-status-updates.php CAADP Review reports if available REACH multi-sectoral review of existing data on the nutrition situation, When available (Mauritania, Sierra Leone) REACH programmes and policies Progress Report from countries and their partners in the http://www.scalingupnutrition.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/compendiurm- SUN Movement to Scale Up Nutrition (SUN) of-country-fiches-ROME-VERSION.pdf http://www.scalingupnutrition.org/events/a-year-of-progress/ WFP Food security reports http://www.wfp.org/food-security/reports/search 2 I. Context – Food and Nutrition Situation Geography, population, and human development General Indicators Source In Sierra Leone poverty remains widespread with about 75% of the rural population Population below international poverty line of US$1.25 per day 51 % UNICEF 2006 living below the poverty line (FAO, 2007). Health and nutrition indicators are among the worst in the world (UNDP-HDI, 2005). Around 80% of poor people live in rural Under-five mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) 140 SLDHS2008 areas; the poorest are in the rural Northern and Southern provinces and in the Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) 89 SLDHS 2008 eastern border provinces, which were particularly hard-hit by a decade of war. Primary cause of under-five deaths Destruction of infrastructure, exodus of health and other professionals, and limited – Rate of death due to pneumonia 20 % WHO 2008 access to preventative and curative care have contributed to the high maternal and Primary school net enrolment or attendance ratio 69 % UNESCO 2007 infant mortality and morbidity rates, which are aggravated by poor sanitation, lack of Primary school net enrolment -ratio of females/males 1 f / 1 m UNESCO 2007 safe water supplies, high unemployment, landlessness, and low agricultural yields. Agro-nutrition indicators Source Economic Development Cultivable land area 74 % FAO 2007 Agriculture, the service sector and mining account for 40%, 40%, and 20% of the GNP, Assess to improved drinking water in rural areas 26 % UNICEF 2008 respectively. Two-thirds of the population survives on subsistence-level agriculture Food Availability (rice, palm oil, groundnuts), which represents more than half of the national income, Average dietary energy requirement (ADER) /person/day 2180 kcal FAOSTAT 2007 however the country relies on mining (diamonds, gold, and bauxite) as its economic base. Major agricultural exports are cocoa beans, green coffee, cigarettes, Kolanuts Dietary energy supply (DES) /person/day 2130 kcal FAO 2005-2007 and wheat bran. A network of river basins and coastal waters provide abundant fresh Total protein share in DES 9.8% FAO 2005-2007 water and marine resources. Although 74% of the total land area is considered (Animal protein) (2.2%) suitable for cultivation, only an estimated 12% is cropped and a meager 1.7% of arable Fat share in DES 23.5% FAO 2005-2007 land is irrigated. Areas considered of greatest economic potential include agriculture, Food diversification index n/a FAO 2005-2007 agro-based industries, mining, and fisheries. Food Consumption Food Security (food availability, access, utilization, and coping mechanisms) Average daily consumption of calories per person n/a FAO 2001-2002 Almost half of households in Sierra Leone are classified as food insecure during the Calories from protein n/a lean season due to a deterioration of access starting in June. Hunger peaks in August Calories from fat n/a when distress sales of rice at harvest time result in depleted reserves is coupled with the high cost of purchasing post-harvest rice. The diet is not well diversified to begin with however food insecurity becomes more acute when stored staple food supplies dwindle. More than 80% of households report experiencing at least one shock per year. As a result household (HH) assets are sold or bartered, HH levels of debt increase, and the portion size and numbers of meals served are reduced. Focus : Causes and symptoms of malnutrition in Sierra Leone Excerpts From The World Bank, Nutrition at a Glance – Sierra Leone http://siteresources.worldbank.org/NUTRITION/Resources/281846-1271963823772/SierraLeone411211web.pdf Poor Infant Feeding Practices Limited Access to Nutritious Food - About half (49%) Two-thirds of all newborns do not receive breast milk within one hour - Almost 1 of 2 households is food insecure. Many more lack access to diverse diets all year. of birth. SLDHS 2008 - Quality and continuity of food access, in addition to quantity, are all lacking. - Nearly 90% of infants under 6 months are not exclusively breastfed. SLDHS 2008 - Very high rates of micronutrient deficiencies signal that dietary diversity is low. - Children’s diets are heavily rice-based and dietary diversification is needed. 3 Agro-Nutrition Indicators (continued) Source STUNTING TRENDS UNDER-WEIGHT TRENDS Nutritional Anthropometry (WHO Child Growth Standards) % children <5 years of age stunted % children <5 years old underweight RatesNCHS of Reference nutritional Population stunting and the prevalenceNCHS of householdreference population food insecurity are Prevalence of stunting in children < 5 years of age 36%/34.1% DHS 2008 / SMART 2010 somewhat100 different among districts Prevalence of wasting in children < 5 years of age 10%/5.8% DHS 2008 / SMART 2010 80 100 Prevalence of underweight children < 5 years of age 21%/18.7% DHS 2008 / SMART 2010 80 60 60 % Women (15-49 years) with a BMI < 18.5 kg/m² 11.2%/9.2 % DHS 2008 / SMART 2010 40 40 34 40 34 20 35 28 20 29 27 30 25 26 Nutritional Anthropometry 0 0 A comparison of three anthropometric indicators, as measured by MICS in 2005 and MOH MICS MICS DHS Other NS MOH MICS MICS DHS Other NS SMART in 2010 suggest modest improvements in the nutritional status of children over a 1989 2000 2005 2008 2010 1989 2000 2005 2008 2010 five-year period. Stunting levels were at 40% in 2005 compared to a 2010 rate of 34%); Underweight children represented 30% of children under age 5 in 2005 as compared to Indicator Gender Residence Wealth Quintile Sources DHS 2008 Male Female Ratio Urban Rural Ratio 1 2 3 4 5 Ratio 18.7% in 2010; and the rates for wasting dropped from 10.5% in 2005 to a 2010 level of m / f u / r (poorest) (richest) richest to 7% (2006 WHO Standards)i. Noteworthy is a decline in severe stunting, which decreased poorest Stunting prevalence < 5 y from 20.6% in 2008 (DHS) to 9.5% in 2010 (SMART). The MDG target calls for reducing the (WHO Child Growth Standards) 39 34 1,1 30 39 0,8 37 44 38 37 23 0,6 rates of underweight children under age 5 to 12% by the year 2015. Of particular concern Under weight prevalence < 5 y is the low rate of “exclusive breastfeeding” among infants 0-6 months, and inadequate (WHO Child Growth Standards) 24 19 1,3 16 23 0,7 22 26 23 20 12 0,5 complementary feeding from 6 months to 2 years of age. Malnutrition rates for all three indicators rise sharply among infants by 2 months, spike again at 9 months, and steadily increase through age two. Contributing to malnutrition are a rice-based diet, low food diversification and low feeding frequency. Both adults and children (1-5 years) averaged Infant feeding 1.9 meals per day; only about 22% of children eat 3 meals per day. Poor and borderline Half of all children receive breast milk within the first hour after birth (early food consumption patterns are differentiated primarily by the frequency of vegetable, fat, initiation, EI); only marginal improvements in EI rates have occurred since the year and pulse consumption in the diet. 2000. Those newborns whose mothers received no assistance at delivery were the least likely to receive EI breast milk however 86% of newborns were breastfed Agro-nutrition indicators (continued) Source within the first 24 hours after receiving a pre-lacteal liquid, usually water.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Ebola Synthesis Reference Document August 2017
    Ebola Synthesis Reference Document August 2017 The IFRC is committed to upholding its Framework for Evaluation. The framework is designed to promote reliable, useful, ethical evaluations that contribute to organizational learning, accountability, and our mission to best serve those in need. It demonstrates the IFRC’s commitment to transparency, providing a publicly accessible document to all stakeholders so that they may better understand and participate in the evaluation function. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Case postale 372 1211 Genève 19 Suisse Tel: +41 22 730 4222 Fax: +41 22 733 0395 http://www.ifrc.org/MandE Africa Regional Office Woodlands Road, off Dennis Pritt Road | P. O. Box 41275, 00100 | Nairobi | Kenya. Tel: +254 202835000 Fax: +254202712777 Find out more on www.ifrc.org/africa Acknowledgement This synthesis reference document was prepared by Steve Powell, IFRC consultant, with support and editorial review by IFRC staff, Dr. Adeiza Ben Adinoyi, Gabriel Pictet, Amanda McClelland and Josse Gillijns. Thanks are owed to the individuals within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and partner organization who gave their input into the background documents for this report. 2 | Key to coloured highlighting: Findings Analyses Lessons Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................... 8 Purpose, scope, background ........................................................ 11 Purpose .......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Ebola Outbreak – Monthly Overview April
    ACAPS: Ebola Outbreak – Monthly Overview April 4 May 2015 Ebola continues to have a negative impact on food security and livelihoods. The recovery of markets and trade should be supported by the lifting of movement Ebola Outbreak restrictions and reopening of borders. Household (HH) incomes remain below average across the region, due to decreased employment opportunities. Weak Monthly Overview April purchasing power is expected to be the main driver of food insecurity. Need for international Not required Low Moderate Significant Urgent assistance X Key Findings Insignificant Minor Moderate Significant Major Expected impact X Anticipated scope and Health systems continue to struggle to provide non-Ebola care. Crisis Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Capacity remains limited and fear of Ebola is still preventing scale Key Findings ............................................................................................................................................... 1 people from seeking healthcare. Regional ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 Outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as measles, are being Guinea ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 reported in the three most affected countries.
    [Show full text]
  • Impact of the West African Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak on Food Security
    Impact of the West African Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak on Food security Anne- Claire THOMAS Tharcisse NKUNZIMANA A n a P EREZ HOYOS François KAYITAKIRE D e c e m b e r 2014 European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Environment and Sustainability Contact information François Kayitakire Address: Joint Research Centre Via Fermi, 2749 / TP266 21027 Ispra (VA), Italy E-mail: [email protected] Tel.: +: +39 0332786580 https://ec.europa.eu/jrc Legal Notice This publication is a Science and Policy Report by the Joint Research Centre, the European Commission’s in-house science service. It aims to provide evidence-based scientific support to the European policy-making process. The scientific output expressed does not imply a policy position of the European Commission. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of this publication. © European Union, 2014 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Main Conclusions . The exceptional extent and duration of the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa has had significant adverse effects on food security in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, the countries most affected. Despite these adverse effects on food security, food availability is not expected to be significantly reduced on average compared to a normal year. Overall production in affected countries is expected to decline slightly, essentially because of labour shortages. In addition, all borders other than the Guinea-Senegal border had been re-opened by the end of November 2014. Food imports may thus resume and food availability may improve starting December 2014.
    [Show full text]
  • The Economic Impacts of Ebola on Firms in Sierra Leone
    Final report The economic impacts of Ebola on firms in Sierra Leone Katherine Casey Rachel Glennerster Tavneet Suri April 2017 When citing this paper, please use the title and the following reference number: F-39204-SLE-1 Project Report: The Economic Impacts of Ebola on Firms in Sierra Leone1 Katherine Casey Rachel Glennerster Tavneet Suri Stanford GSB MIT J-PAL MIT Sloan [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 1. Introduction and Motivation In 2014, Sierra Leone was hit by the emergence of Ebola, a deadly and terrifying disease. In an effort to control the spread of the disease, national and international agencies took drastic action: land borders were closed; several international airlines stopped service to the country; cordons were placed around particularly affected districts; schools were closed for nine months; and bars, nightclubs and restaurants were restricted for over a year. The economic consequences of the fear and disruption caused by the outbreak have been hard to estimate, not least because Sierra Leone simultaneously suffered a reduction in the price of iron ore, one of its main exports. Few would contest, however, that the economic impacts were substantial. In previous work, we used nationally representative household surveys to document how hours worked fell for those in informal employment and that nonfarm household businesses were badly hit during the worst of the crisis (Fu et al., 2015). However, little is known about how formal sector firms reacted to the crisis. As in other low income countries, formal sector firms represent a relatively small fraction of employment in Sierra Leone (91% of the labor force is self-employed), but a much higher proportion of taxes and exports (corporate tax alone makes up 11% of tax revenues).
    [Show full text]
  • Fears and Misperceptions of the Ebola Response System During the 2014-2015 Outbreak in Sierra Leone
    RESEARCH ARTICLE Fears and Misperceptions of the Ebola Response System during the 2014-2015 Outbreak in Sierra Leone Thespina Yamanis1,2*, Elisabeth Nolan1, Susan Shepler1 1 School of International Service, American University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, 2 Center on Health, Risk and Society, American University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America * [email protected], [email protected] a11111 Abstract Background OPEN ACCESS Future infectious disease epidemics are likely to disproportionately affect countries with Citation: Yamanis T, Nolan E, Shepler S (2016) weak health systems, exacerbating global vulnerability. To decrease the severity of epi- Fears and Misperceptions of the Ebola Response demics in these settings, lessons can be drawn from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. System during the 2014-2015 Outbreak in Sierra There is a dearth of literature on public perceptions of the public health response system Leone. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 10(10): e0005077. that required citizens to report and treat Ebola cases. Epidemiological reports suggested doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005077 that there were delays in diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of our study was to explore Editor: Matthew Kasper, Armed Forces Health the barriers preventing Sierra Leoneans from trusting and using the Ebola response system Surveillance Center, UNITED STATES during the height of the outbreak. Received: February 25, 2016 Accepted: September 27, 2016 Methods Published: October 18, 2016 Using an experienced ethnographer, we conducted 30 semi-structured in-depth interviews Copyright: © 2016 Yamanis et al. This is an open in public spaces in Ebola-affected areas. Participants were at least age 18, spoke Krio, and access article distributed under the terms of the reported no contact in the recent 21 days with an Ebola-infected person.
    [Show full text]
  • Briefing Note West Africa Ebola
    ACAPS Briefing Note EBOLA OUTBREAK IN SIERRA LEONE DATE: 26 June 2014 Insignificant Minor Moderate Important Major Priorities for humanitarian interventions in the coming weeks Expected impact X Immediate needs include qualified medical staff, the organisation of training on how to treat Ebola, and increasing number of contact tracing and awareness-raising Need for international Not required Low Moderate Important Urgent activities among the population. There is need for socioeconomic and psychological assistance x support to cases, their families and communities. There is social disruption and stigma associated with the illness. Most of the people affected by Ebola in Sierra Leone are women, as they are the ones who take care of sick family members, Crisis overview deceased and relatives. An Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, which started in Guinea in early 2014, Humanitarian constraints has now spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. As of 23 June, the total cumulative The upcoming rainy season is expected to hamper humanitarian access. number of cases reported in the three countries was 635 out of which 399 died, a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 62.8%. (WHO, 25/06/2014). Ebola patients Need for humanitarian assistance have been identified in more than 60 separate locations across the three There is an urgent need to intensify response efforts, and to promote cross-border countries, complicating efforts to treat patients and curb the outbreak (MSF, collaboration and information sharing (WHO 25/06/2014). Bringing the epidemic under 25/06/2014). control will require a massive deployment of resources by governments in West Africa and aid organisations (MSF 24/06/2014).
    [Show full text]
  • Magnitude of Ebola Relative to Other Causes of Death in Liberia, Sierra
    Correspondence Magnitude of Ebola We used the most recent (2013) In Liberia, for virtually all model relative to other causes national estimates of non-EVD parameters, EVD deaths exceeded the mortality,2,7 together with projections expected number of deaths due to of death in Liberia, of population growth, to calculate the the leading non-EVD cause of death Sierra Leone, and Guinea expected number of deaths from non- (fi gure). In Sierra Leone, a broad range EVD causes in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and of model parameters also indicated With more than 20 000 cases reported, Guinea in 2014. For all combinations that EVD might have killed more the outbreak of Ebola virus disease of model parameters, we mapped how people in 2014 than the leading non- (EVD) in west Africa is by far the largest the estimated number of EVD deaths EVD cause of death (ie, malaria). In in recorded history. Despite the scale ranked relative to the expected number other sets of model parameters, EVD of the current outbreak, EVD is often of deaths from non-EVD causes. still killed more people than the second perceived as a “small-scale killer”.1 By comparison, malaria caused an Liberia Sierra Leone Guinea estimated 854 000 deaths world wide 2·5 2 10k 15k in 2013. However, although limited 5k at the global level, the impact of EVD on mortality could be substantial in 10k countries with intense transmission. We thus aimed to compare EVD with 2·0 other causes of death in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea in 2014.
    [Show full text]
  • Impact of the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak on Market Chains And
    FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Dakar, 2016 The conclusions given in this information product are considered appropriate at the time of its preparation. They may be mod- ified in the light of further knowledge gained at subsequent stages of the project. In particular, the recommendations included in this information product were valid at the time they were written, during the FAO workshop on the market chains and trade of agricultural products in the context of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa, organized in December 2014 in Dakar, Senegal. The views expressed in this information product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of FAO. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not men- tioned. ISBN 978-92-5-109223-1 © FAO, 2016 FAO encourages the use, reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product. Except where otherwise in- dicated, material may be copied, downloaded and printed for private study, research and teaching purposes, or for use in non-commercial products or services, provided that appropriate acknowledgement of FAO as the source and copyright holder is given and that FAO’s endorsement of users’ views, products or services is not implied in any way.
    [Show full text]
  • After Ebola: Why and How Capacity Support to Sierra Leone's Health
    Researching livelihoods and services affected by conflict After Ebola: why and how capacity support to Sierra Leone’s health sector needs to change Report 7 Lisa Denney and Richard Mallett with Ramatu Jalloh June 2015 Written by Lisa Denney and Richard Mallett with Ramatu Jalloh SLRC reports present information, analysis and key policy recommendations on issues relating to livelihoods, basic services and social protection in conflict affected situations. This and other SLRC reports are available from www.securelivelihoods. org. Funded by DFID, Irish Aid and the EC. Disclaimer: The views presented in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of DFID, Irish Aid, the EC, SLRC or our partners SLRC reports present information, analysis on issues relating to livelihoods, basic services and social protection in conflict affected situations. This and other SLRC reports are available from www.securelivelihoods.org. ©SLRC 2015. Readers are encouraged to quote or reproduce material from SLRC for their own publications. As copyright holder SLRC, requests due acknowledgement and a copy of the publication. Secure Livelihoods Research Consortium Overseas Development Institute (ODI) 203 Blackfriars Road London SE1 8NJ United Kingdom T +44 (0)20 7922 8249 F +44 (0)20 7922 0399 E [email protected] www.securelivelihoods.org Researching livelihoods and services affected by conflict i About us Secure Livelihoods Research Consortium (SLRC) aims to generate a stronger evidence base on how people make a living, educate their children, deal with illness and access other basic services in conflict-affected situations (CAS). Providing better access to basic services, social protection and support to livelihoods matters for the human welfare of people affected by conflict, the achievement of development targets such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and international efforts at peace- and state-building.
    [Show full text]
  • WFP Sierra Leone | Brief
    WFP Sierra Leone | Brief Reporting period: 01 April – 30 June Country Director: Gon Myers COUNTRY STRATEGY WFP’s regional Emergency Operation (EMOP) focuses on food and nutritional support under three pillars – care, Brief contain, protect – to support the health response in | bringing Sierra Leone to an Ebola free status. The regional Special Operation augments the capacity of the humanitarian response by providing logistics, engineering, air service, coordination, and telecommunications support to enhance the efficiency of the humanitarian response. The Country Programme (CP, currently on hold) focused on school feeding, supplementary feeding for vulnerable populations and livelihood support; targeted support to HIV patients is ongoing. WFP has been present in Sierra Leone since 1968. Sierra Leone Sierra OPERATIONS WFP 6 Months Planned Total Total Total Project Net Funding number requirements received Funded Top 5 Donors Duration Requirements of people (in USD) (in USD) (%) (in USD)* Japan, Republic of CP 200336 Jan 2013 – Sierra Leone, UK, Country Programme 337,382* 45,388,138 2,343,947 European Dec 2015 35,481,917 78% Sierra Leone (2013- Commission, 2015) Multilateral EMOP 200761.SL USA, Republic of Support to Sierra Leone, Populations in Areas Aug 2014 – Canada, 1,473,675 65,499,329** n/a n/a 2,694,772 Affected by the Germany, UN Sept 2015 Ebola Outbreak in CERF Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone SO 200773.SL UN Common Logistics Common Funds & Agencies Services for the (excl. CERF), Oct 2014 – Humanitarian n/a 76,557,478** n/a n/a n/a USA, Republic of Community’s Dec 2015 Sierra Leone, Response to the Germany, Ebola outbreak in European West Africa Commission *July – December, **Sierra Leone part of the Regional Ebola Response Project only Summary of WFP assistance WFP’s Emergency Operation is focused on supporting the health response to stop the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) by meeting the basic food and nutrition needs of affected families and communities in Sierra Leone.
    [Show full text]
  • Part I: Results Achieved
    8 PART I: RESULTS ACHIEVED The government of Liberia, WFP and WorldBank deliver rice, cereal and USAID vegetable oil to an Ebola-quarantined household in Monrovia. The 7 people living in the house had been quarantined since March 1 were medically monitored for 21 days and received psycho social counselling. Photo: World Bank/Dominic Chavez PHASE ONE: TAKING THE HEAT OUT OF THE OUTBREAK At the height of the outbreak between August and October 2014, hundreds of people were getting sick and dying each week. Until this time, national and international partners, including frontline non-governmental actors, particularly Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), members of the UN country teams and the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), had been active on the ground in responding to the outbreak, but the growth in transmission continued to outpace response capacity. Significantly more financial resources, trained medical personnel and clinical capacities were needed to rise to the challenge. On 29 August 2014, the Presidents of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone jointly wrote to the Secretary-General, requesting a UN resolution on a comprehensive response to the Ebola outbreak and calling for the United Nations to take the lead in coordinating the international response. In response to this letter, and with the unwavering support of the General Assembly, on 17 September, the Secretary-General informed the General Assembly of his intent to establish the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), which deployed to the region ten days later with the objective of supporting the scaling up of the UN system in response to this unprecedented outbreak.
    [Show full text]
  • Field Labs in Action for Ebola Control in Sierra Leone
    Infectious Diseases and Translational Medicine • Letter: Field Laboratory • Field labs in action for Ebola control in Sierra Leone Infect Dis Transl Med, 2015;1(01):2-5. DOI:10.11979/idtm.201501002 Dear Editor, To cope with the challenges of newly emerging or re- used to compare the proportion of confirmed EVD cases emerging infectious diseases, timely diagnosis is critical among total cases between Sierra Leone and Liberia. A for triage of suspected patients. The outbreak of Ebola- matched-pairs t-test was used to compare the number virus disease (EVD) in West Africa in late 2013 and the of confirmed EVD cases during the first three weeks of subsequent out-of-control situation compelled the World operation at the five laboratories with the previous three Health Organization (WHO) to declare the epidemic to weeks. The SPSS 18.0 software package for Windows be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical analy- (PHEIC)[1]. As of 8 February 2015, a total of 10, 958 ses. confirmed, probable, and suspected EVD cases with 3, LTWG of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation of 344 deaths had been reported by the Ministries of Health Sierra Leone coordinated the Ebola laboratory service and Sanitation of Sierra Leone. Ebola diagnostic labo- response through a special organization, the Director- ratories, supported by international partners, confirmed ates of Hospital and Laboratory Services and Disease 8, 149 cases (74.4%) and 2, 978 deaths (89.1%)[2]. Here Prevention and Control. The goal of the laboratory re- we highlight the critical role played by internationally sponse effort was to ensure a 24-hour turnaround time supported field labs during the Ebola outbreak in Sierra from initial collection of the specimen to result reporting.
    [Show full text]