VZCZCXRO5973
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0152 0641921
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051921Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0850
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000152 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR Crisis Management Support Joseph Kowlaski, Patrick Clerkin 
and Lisa Gisvold 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU TBIO KSTH SL
SUBJECT:  Sierra Leone: Exercising Avian Influenza Response Plans 
 
REF: A. STATE 22991  B. 06 Freetown 120 C. 05 Freetown 928 
 
¶1.   Summary:  Sierra Leone launched a National Avian Influenza 
Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Plan in June 2006, but 
resource constraints have prevented effective implementation or 
testing.  An Avian Flu Action Committee meets every few weeks, under 
the authority of the Avian Influenza Secretariat.  A World Bank 
funded team of WHO experts completed an assessment mission to Sierra 
Leone in February 2007 and  their report is expected in late March. 
Although Sierra Leone has carried out no Avian Flu simulation 
exercises, in 2006 birds were sent to a UK lab for testing in the 
wake of a suspected Avian Flu outbreak; results were negative.  End 
Summary 
 
The Sierra Leone National Action Plan 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  During a March 1 visit with the Ministry of Agriculture, DCM met 
with the Dr. Samuel Carew, Coordinator of the Avian Flu Action 
Committee, the Acting Director of the Livestock Division, Ministry 
of Agriculture and Food Security, Francis Sankoh, and the 
Agriculture Ministry Laboratory Director, Dr. Mohamed Barrie. All 
said that lack of resources has severely constrained Sierra Leone's 
ability to monitor and test the country's effectiveness in combating 
an outbreak of Avian Influenza. They also acknowledged serious gaps 
in the National Action Plan, launched in June 2006. The Action Plan 
identifies high risk areas for Avian Influenza in Sierra Leone and 
traces migratory bird patterns. 
 
¶3. The 2006 Report of the National Avian Flu Secretariat outlines 
actions undertaken in the past year to prepare for a possible 
outbreak and identifies further needs.  Sierra Leone has conducted a 
limited Avian Flu awareness campaign. Some posters and leaflets have 
been distributed and local health monitors have been taught to be 
alert to warning signs of potential outbreaks of Avian Influenza. 
Nevertheless the GoSL has little ability to monitor, test, or 
sustain a robust education campaign in local languages. Given 
adequate resources, they would expand sustained surveillance and 
monitoring through collection of samples in high risk areas. 
 
¶4.  With the assistance of international partners, such as FAO, OIE, 
UNDP and regional USAID support, GoSL technical experts have been 
able to take advantage of regional and international conferences. 
Some equipment has been provided to help restore a lab destroyed 
during the civil war. However, the Lab Director, Dr. Barrie, stated 
that he still lacks the resources for adequate evaluation.  The 
Lassa Fever Laboratory in Kenema could, in a pinch, provide some 
diagnostic help, he said. 
 
¶6.  At the request of the GoSL, a World Bank Funded WHO technical 
team visited Sierra Leone in late February to assess the strengths 
and weaknesses of the national action plan and identify priority 
areas for assistance.  The final report is expected at the end of 
March 2007. 
 
Inter-Ministerial Committee on Avian Influenza 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶7. DCM also met with the chair of the Inter-Ministerial committee on 
Avian Influenza, Minister of Health and Sanitation, Abattor Thomas. 
In late 2005, Minister Thomas took the lead in calling together an 
inter-ministerial meeting to discuss Avian Flu preparedness. (Ref 
C).  While acknowledging the need for continuous vigilance, Minister 
Thomas admitted that since then the Committee had not met on a 
regular basis and said that the National Action Committee was better 
able to advise on preparations.  Avian Influenza concerns, she said, 
tended to recede when addressing some of the immediate health 
threats that Sierra Leoneans face.  (Comment: Sierra Leone suffers 
from an appalling lack of health facilities and resources, and has 
the highest child and maternal mortality rate in the world. 
Devoting scarce resources to Avian Influenza preparedness is 
unlikely to be as high a priority as tackling mortality statistics 
or combating endemic diseases in Sierra Leone, such as Malaria, 
Typhoid and HIV-AIDS. End Comment) 
 
Testing the National Action Plan 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  While GoSL officials have not conducted simulations to test the 
effectiveness of the National Action Plan, they have confronted the 
reality of a potential outbreak. In February 2006, the GoSL, with 
logistical help from the Embassy, investigated suspicious poultry 
deaths on the remote Turtle Islands. (Ref B)  A UK lab determined 
that the samples tested inconclusive for Avian Influenza. According 
the 2006 Annual Report, similar unusual poultry deaths were tested 
in the UK later in the year, with negative results. 
 
¶9.  Sierra Leone does not maintain a web site with Avian Influenza 
information.