From September 17th to 20th, 2024, the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and US CDC, convened a landmark technical workshop at the Dohas Hotel in Bo. The purpose of this gathering was to develop National Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Built Environment Standards for healthcare facilities across the country.
This workshop represents a critical step in Sierra Leone’s journey towards safer, more resilient healthcare systems. Its primary objective was to draft a comprehensive IPC Built Environment Guideline Document that will provide operational guidance for ensuring adequate infrastructure, materials, equipment, and resources to meet IPC standards in healthcare settings. The guideline will serve as a blueprint for facility design, construction, renovation, and maintenance, with a focus on minimizing infection risks and enhancing patient and staff safety.
Participants included key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Agency, WHO, and the US CDC, as well as representatives from healthcare facilities nationwide.
The document will outline best practices for infection prevention and control in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. It will also address the importance of staff training on monitoring and evaluation to ensure compliance with IPC standards.
To ensure a thorough and efficient review process, participants were divided into five thematic working groups. Each group was tasked with identifying gaps and proposing solutions within specific domains of IPC infrastructure.
Group 1 focused on facility design and visiting areas, including general IPC considerations for healthcare facilities.
Group 2 addressed healthcare rooms, patient areas, hand hygiene facilities, and stockpiles of IPC supplies.
Group 3 examined bed occupancy, capacity and spacing, staffing and workload, ventilation and air quality, and infection prevention in specialized units.
Group 4 worked on sanitation systems, bathroom sinks, drainage, and environmental decontamination.
Group 5 tackled healthcare waste management, linen handling, water systems, and power supply.
This collaborative structure allowed for a comprehensive and context-specific evaluation of IPC measures across all aspects of healthcare infrastructure. The recommendations generated by each group will inform the development of minimum and core standards tailored to various healthcare departments and facility types.
The importance of this workshop cannot be overstated. The Ministry of Health strengthens regulatory oversight and aligns national health infrastructure with global IPC benchmarks. The National Public Health Agency reinforces its mandate to protect public health through evidence-based policy and system-wide coordination. For Sierra Leone as a whole, this initiative represents a proactive investment in health security, patient safety, and institutional resilience.
By embedding IPC principles into the very fabric of healthcare infrastructure, Sierra Leone is taking bold steps to prevent healthcare-associated infections, improve clinical outcomes, and prepare for future public health emergencies. The workshop also fostered intersectoral collaboration, bringing together engineers, clinicians, public health experts, and policymakers to co-create solutions that are both technically sound and locally relevant.
The outcomes of this workshop will culminate in the publication of a national IPC Built Environment Guideline Document. This document will guide future infrastructure projects, renovations, and policy reforms while also serving as a training and advocacy tool for healthcare workers, facility managers, and development partners.
Ultimately, this milestone reflects Sierra Leone’s firm commitment to building a health system that is safe, inclusive, and dignified. One where infection prevention is not an afterthought but a foundational principle.
Public Relations Unit, NPHA-SL