CISMAT Holds National Consultative and Advocacy Meeting on Pandemic Preparedness and Response
By Naomi Henkuay Samura
Civil Society Movement Against Tuberculosis (CISMAT) on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, held a one day National Consultative and Advocacy meeting with multi-stakeholders on pandemic preparedness and response.
The meeting at the Sierra Palm Hotel in Freetown was held under the Global Agenda to alert and inform key stakeholders to respond to emerging outbreaks and emergencies.
This meeting was pioneered by the Civil Society Movement against Tuberculosis TB Sierra Leone (CISMAT-SL), a local NGO registered under the laws of Sierra Leone and is working to advance the health rights of TB and TB/HIV affected communities by amplifying their voices to access treatment services.
The meeting was held with the theme “From Mitigation to Preparedness”.
Addressing participants at the meeting, the Executive Director of CISMAT, Paul Brima Bangura, said that the reason for the meeting with stakeholders is to ensure that authorities concerned map out strategies to tackle pandemic before they occurred.
He said years ago the country has witnessed pandemics like Ebola, and COVID-19 .
He said that the government then had to use resources meant for curing other diseases to respond to those pandemics.
He said for such to be averted, his organization has decided to start raising awareness so that authorities concerned would do the needful to respond to emergencies.
One of the facilitators Dr. Lackoh commended CISMAT for organizing the stakeholders’ engagement. He underscored that the organization is one of the leading institutions that has promoted the health status of TB patients across the country.
He called on authorities concerned to work with CISMAT in raising awareness.
Dr Alhassan Sesay told participants that each year government records more than 25,000 TC cases across the country.
He said COVID-19 has similar symptoms to TB, a reason, he said, TB issues should be treated seriously.By Naomi Henkuay Samura
Civil Society Movement Against Tuberculosis (CISMAT) on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, held a one day National Consultative and Advocacy meeting with multi-stakeholders on pandemic preparedness and response.
The meeting at the Sierra Palm Hotel in Freetown was held under the Global Agenda to alert and inform key stakeholders to respond to emerging outbreaks and emergencies.
This meeting was pioneered by the Civil Society Movement against Tuberculosis TB Sierra Leone (CISMAT-SL), a local NGO registered under the laws of Sierra Leone and is working to advance the health rights of TB and TB/HIV affected communities by amplifying their voices to access treatment services.
The meeting was held with the theme “From Mitigation to Preparedness”.
Addressing participants at the meeting, the Executive Director of CISMAT, Paul Brima Bangura, said that the reason for the meeting with stakeholders is to ensure that authorities concerned map out strategies to tackle pandemic before they occurred.
He said years ago the country has witnessed pandemics like Ebola, and COVID-19 .
He said that the government then had to use resources meant for curing other diseases to respond to those pandemics.
He said for such to be averted, his organization has decided to start raising awareness so that authorities concerned would do the needful to respond to emergencies.
One of the facilitators Dr. Lackoh commended CISMAT for organizing the stakeholders’ engagement. He underscored that the organization is one of the leading institutions that has promoted the health status of TB patients across the country.
He called on authorities concerned to work with CISMAT in raising awareness.
Dr Alhassan Sesay told participants that each year government records more than 25,000 TC cases across the country.
He said COVID-19 has similar symptoms to TB, a reason, he said, TB issues should be treated seriously.