Sierra Leone hosts ECOWAS ministers on malaria elimination strategy
Add us on Google The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Julius Bio, has underscored the strategic importance of the Assembly as a platform for decisive regional action. Mr Bio, who is Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, was represented by the Chief Minister, David Sengeh. He spoke on Saturday during the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Health Ministers of ECOWAS. The high-level session brought together Ministers of Health from member states, government leaders, technical and financial partners, and regional health experts. Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google /* 1. 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The High-Impact Button / .gn-button { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; padding: 14px 24px; border: 1px solid #dadce0; border-radius: 30px; / Modern pill shape / text-decoration: none; background: #ffffff; color: #3c4043; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(60,64,67,0.1); } .gn-button-text { font-size: 17px; / Increased font size / font-weight: 700; / Maximum boldness / letter-spacing: 0.1px; } .gn-button:hover { background: #f8f9fa; border-color: #d2d2d2; box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(60,64,67,0.2); transform: translateY(-1px); } .gn-icon { width: 22px; / Matched to larger text size / height: 22px; object-fit: contain; } / 5. 📱 Mobile Optimization / @media (max-width: 480px) { .gn-card { padding: 20px; } .gn-header { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; gap: 10px; } .gn-title { font-size: 20px; } .gn-description { font-size: 16px; } .gn-button { width: 100%; justify-content: center; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 14px 10px; } .gn-button-text { font-size: 15px; / Scaled slightly for small screens / } } The development was disclosed on the organisation’s social media handle on Saturday, noting a shared goal to advance a coordinated response towards malaria elimination across West Africa. The two-day meeting was organised by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone. According to the organisers, the meeting is being held with the theme: “Advancing Malaria Elimination Through an Integrated Regional Strategy,” aimed at strengthening collective action against one of the region’s most pressing public health challenges. Mr Bio emphasised that healthcare provision remained a key indicator of governments’ ability to deliver on their fundamental responsibilities. He called for concrete, measurable outcomes and accelerated progress from malaria control to elimination through stronger, data-driven, and innovative health systems, before formally declaring the session open. ALSO READ: ECOWAS Court unveils five–year strategic plan In his welcome address, the Minister of Health of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the occasion, Austin Demby, highlighted the region’s renewed political commitment to placing health at the centre of sustainable development. He emphasised the urgency of intensifying malaria elimination efforts in the face of stalled global progress since 2015, declining external financing, and the growing effects of climate change on transmission dynamics. Mr Demby called for increased domestic investment, innovation, and the transformation of health systems into more resilient and responsive platforms. 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