Strengthening Public Health Reporting in Sierra Leone

With support from ECOWAS RCSDC Between 7th and 10th October 2025, a joint team comprising the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC), the One Health RCCE Team, the Sierra Leone Health Reporters Network, and Initiative for Media Development MDev is conducting a nationwide mapping and verification exercise of health journalists and media outlets across Sierra Leone.

The activity which is ongoing and expected to conclude tomorrow, focuses on updating and verifying the existing database of the Sierra Leone Health Reporters Network and regional media institutions. This is a foundational step toward building the capacity of professional public health reporters and enhancing outbreak and pandemic preparedness and response.

Key stakeholder engagements so far have included visits to the Independent Media Commission (IMC) Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) regional offices District-level Health Reporters Network members Local and regional media outlets

The ultimate goal is to strengthen the role of the media in delivering accurate, timely, and impactful public health reporting, emergency preparedness, response and recovery through tailored training, improved coordination, and longterm collaboration.

This important initiative sets the stage for a more resilient and informed media landscape, ready to support both national and regional health security efforts.