On April 15, 2024, the Steering Committee of the Sierra Leone Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) convened its first meeting since the establishment of the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) in December 2023. The purpose of the meeting was to review membership of the steering committee since its establishment in 2017.

Additionally, the meeting centered on reviewing the progress of the FETP implementation, tackling challenges, determining program policies and activities, aligning program activities with NPHA priorities, monitoring resource utilization, budget planning for sustainability, strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders, and evaluating the program’s impact while identifying areas for improvement.

The meeting, chaired by the Executive Director (ED) of Sierra Leone NPHA, Prof. Foday Sahr, featured a presentation by the Resident Advisor, Dr. Gebrekrstos Negash Gebru, on the overall progress, key achievements, challenges, and next steps. Notable attendees included the Deputy ED of Sierra Leone NPHA, the Country Director and Deputy of United State Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC), and other senior officials.