Freetown, Sierra Leone, Thursday, August 8th, 2024, the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and with support from Health and Development in Action (HEADA) and other key partners, successfully convened a one-day review meeting on hospital surveillance at the Sierra Palms Hotel, Lumley Beach. The meeting brought together diverse group of stakeholders, including Medical Superintendents, Matrons, DSOs, Clinicians, and Public Health Officers, with the goal of enhancing the hospital surveillance system across Sierra Leone.

Participants represented various districts across the country, highlighting the broad commitment to strengthening healthcare systems nationwide. Key partners in the event included the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), who provided critical support and expertise.

The primary objective of the meeting was to improve the hospital surveillance system in Sierra Leone. The group work and discussions focused on several crucial areas, including the regular and standardized collection of data, effective data analysis, Mortality Surveillance and the presentation of case data summaries to inform decision-making processes. The importance of maintaining accurate records of cases was emphasized as a foundation for understanding the outcomes of recorded incidents and guiding future healthcare interventions.

Throughout the meeting, participants deliberated on the approaches needed to strengthen the hospital surveillance system at both district and national levels. Group discussions