Attachments
This weekly update is produced by UNDP in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Sierra Leone, liaising with the Office of National Security and development partners.
Situation overview
Following the landslides and floods that hit Freetown and surrounding areas on 14 August 2017, the UN system in Sierra Leone continues to support national recovery. Under national leadership and in addition to addressing the most urgent needs of those most affected, assessments are now being conducted to inform medium- and long-term action plans, to mitigate risks and to protect the people of Sierra Leone from future tragedy. For the purpose of information and coordination, relief and recovery efforts are detailed here.
Recovery efforts
HEALTH
WHO
• The first round of Sierra Leone’s first Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaign concluded on 21
September. Based on field reports, the first round of this emergency campaign met its ambitious
targets, with over 500,000 people receiving the vaccine. Round 2 of OCV will be conducted between
5-10 October. The campaign, which was conducted in communities affected by the recent flooding
and landslides in Western Area, was implemented by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation with
support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; WHO; UNICEF; MSF and other health partners.
• Throughout implementation, the campaign has been supported by extensive communications support and community engagement, to which WHO has provided significant guidance in development of messages and materials, supervision and training of community mobilizers, as well as community health workers. These teams reinforce disease prevention messages as well as support the overall uptake of OCV, with use of safe water, sanitation and hygiene practices remaining critical to reduce risks of cholera and other diarrheal diseases.
• Surveillance for priority diseases including cholera continues and training is ongoing for health workers in the affected areas, so as to improve clinical detection and reporting of potential cases of such diseases. The training targets over 300 health workers from 70 clinics in Western Area Urban and 60 in Western Area Rural as well as 240 staff from the major hospitals.
UNFPA
• On 21 September, UNFPA distributed 19 mama and baby kits to pregnant women staying at Old School and Juba camps. The mama and baby kits contain essential items including nappies, baby clothes, sanitary pads, wrappers, washing powder and other baby products (bringing the total reached to 99 pregnant women).
• UNFPA provided 94 dignity kits to UNAIDS for distribution to women living with HIV/AIDS and other women who are considered to be key affected populations at risk for HIV. To date a total 1,113 dignity kits have been distributed to vulnerable women and girls affected by the disaster.
• UNFPA hosted the Community of Practice (CoP) on gender based violence (GBV) meeting on 21 September. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the reporting tools for GBV in the camps. The tools cover individual case incident and general case incident reports. The tools will support the documentation of GBV cases in the camps for follow up and provision of comprehensive supports for the survivors as well as for regular reporting to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs and to the Office of National Security. Piloting of the tools will start on 25 September in all camps by a team comprised of UNFPA, Save the Children and IRC.
German Leprosy and TB Relief Association
300 households benefited from the donation of:
• Medical items: Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Amoxcillin, Metronidazol, Oral Rehydration Salt Solution, Tetracycline and cough syrup (for children)
• Hygiene kits including Bathing soap, Laundry soap, Hand sanitizer and Bathing towel
• Food items: Sardine, Garie (local food made from cassava), Sugar, Milk and Salt;
• Household items: Spoon, Rubber bowl (set) Water Mug (2 ltrs), Bucket, and Foam mattress. These items were donated in the presence of ONS representatives, the Deputy Minister of Health Mrs. Zulainatu Cooper and local authorities.