By: Salamatu Conteh,Ministry of Information and Civic Education.
The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Abdulai Bah, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the World Health Organization to improve public health communication, civic engagement, and community mobilization across Sierra Leone.
The commitment was made during a meeting held at the Minister’s Office with the WHO Country Representative, Dr. George F. Ameh, where discussions centered on enhancing partnership in health communication and public awareness campaigns.
Welcoming the WHO delegation, Minister Bah introduced senior staff of the Ministry and expressed appreciation for the continued partnership between the Government and WHO. He noted that the Ministry has a critical role to play in informing and engaging citizens, especially on major health and civic issues affecting the country.
The Minister recalled President Julius Maada Bio’s call for government institutions to “bring the public along,” stressing the importance of telling positive stories about the health sector and promoting collaboration in advancing the Sierra Leone narrative.
Minister Bah highlighted the Ministry’s ongoing efforts in supporting national health initiatives, including communication around the MPox outbreak and the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Health to lead the “300 Days of Activism” campaign. He said the Ministry is responsible for public engagement and community mobilization under the initiative.
He further emphasized that while the Ministry remains focused on epidemic communication, there is also a broader vision to establish a sustainable public health education infrastructure in the country. He linked this effort to the six pillars of civic education, particularly the “HEAL Salone” initiative and ongoing waste management campaigns, which he said require stronger partnerships and coordinated support.
The Minister described the collaboration with WHO as an opportunity to build a stronger public health management ecosystem that can support behavioural change, health education, and national development.
On the issue of the Safe Motherhood Bill, Minister Bah said progress is being made despite some setbacks, adding that there should be dedicated communication and advocacy around the bill to ensure public understanding and support.
In his remarks, Dr. George F. Ameh commended the Ministry for its proactive engagement in public communication and praised the MOU signed with the Ministry of Health. He stressed the importance of building an ecosystem that can respond effectively to inevitable public health challenges.
The WHO Representative underscored the need for continuous engagement with communities, including traditional leaders and chiefs, especially in addressing issues such as Kush abuse and the growing concern of HIV among young people. He noted that meaningful youth engagement and collaboration with other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are essential in addressing these challenges.
Dr. Ameh further stated that “when women are healthy, the nation is healthy,” while recommending the development of a joint civic engagement programme involving UN agencies and other stakeholders. He added that development is closely tied to human behaviour and mindset change, emphasizing the need for sustained public education and awareness campaigns.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration and working together to advance public health communication and civic engagement in Sierra Leone.
