Freetown – Sierra Leone, with the help of the World Well being Group (WHO) and worldwide and nationwide companions, has efficiently transported remaining Ebola samples from distant storage websites to a safe central biobank. This operation was necessary to scale back the danger of unintended publicity, launch or misuse of those doubtlessly hazardous supplies in addition to laying the groundwork for future scientific analysis utilizing these samples.

The 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa left a profound affect on Sierra Leone, with lingering challenges tied to the outbreak’s remnants. Tens of 1000’s of Ebola samples, collected throughout the outbreak and saved throughout the nation in insecure amenities, posed a steady biosecurity danger. In response, the Authorities of Sierra Leone labored with the Authorities of Canada to ascertain a brand new laboratory outfitted with Biosafety Stage 2 (BSL2) and Biosafety Stage 3 (BSL3) amenities and the Nationwide Biobank Facility. This facility, accomplished in early 2022, was designed to securely home remaining Ebola samples and different high-risk pathogens. As soon as this facility was accomplished, transporting the samples from varied labs to the brand new biobank facility was initiated.

The duty of transportation of the samples safely and securely had many complexities requiring meticulous planning, coordination, and danger evaluation. The samples, positioned throughout the nation in varied laboratories, had been saved in situations that didn’t meet worldwide requirements for biosecurity. As well as, logistical challenges, together with pandemic-related delays and useful resource constraints delayed the transfer of the samples. 

Recognizing the magnitude of the problem, the Governments of Sierra Leone and Canada sought the help of the UK, a longstanding associate in biosecurity in Sierra Leone, and WHO. Collectively, a multinational staff was shaped, which included senior officers and specialists from Sierra Leone’s Nationwide Public Well being Company, Canada’s Weapons Risk Discount Program and the Nationwide Microbiology Laboratory, the UK Well being Safety Company, and WHO, with further help from the Africa Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention and the World Fund. This collaborative effort was marked by three ranges of coordination.

“The dedication from the Ministry of Well being & Nationwide Public Well being Company, the technical and monetary help of our companions, and nearer engagement with the native communities ensured the profitable transportation of the medical samples of the 2014-15 Ebola outbreak in West Africa to a well-secured bio-repository hub,” stated Prof. Foday Sahr – the Govt Director of the NPHA on the protected transportation of the remnant samples. 

Commenting on this achievement, Dr.  Harmless NUWAGIRA, the WHO Consultant, Sierra Leone added: 

“Beforehand saved in several repositories nationwide for almost a decade, these samples posing a big and potential risk that demanded motion. The three-level coordination inside WHO ensured management and efficient coordination of all of the stakeholders concerned, demonstrating a world instance of how teamwork and collaboration can deal with world well being points and a more healthy future for all individuals.” 

The belief of native communities was paramount. Clear communication was important to assuage fears and emphasize the significance of the mission because the samples had been moved by way of communities close to the storage websites. Throughout the hospital partitions, the dedication of the workforce remained unwavering, even because the trauma of the outbreak lingered of their reminiscences. Their dedication was a cornerstone of the operation’s success. The collaboration between nationwide and worldwide stakeholders ensured that each step of the method, from danger evaluation to move, was meticulously deliberate and executed.

The operation formally started in April, timed to coincide with the dry season to make sure optimum transport situations. The multinational staff carried out exhaustive rehearsals, simulating the logistics repeatedly to get rid of any margin for error. Leveraging the cold-chain dealing with expertise from the Expanded Programme on Immunization, the staff ensured the integrity of the samples all through the journey. Via cautious planning and coordination, the staff efficiently transported the Ebola samples to the central biobank.

The transportation and consolidation marks a big achievement in enhancing biosecurity in Sierra Leone and past. The biobank’s consolidation of Ebola samples reduces the danger of organic threats, offering a safe setting for potential future scientific use. 

Trying forward, a number of crucial steps are deliberate:

• The saved samples might be evaluated for his or her potential to contribute to future analysis, enhancing our understanding of Ebola and different high-risk pathogens. 
• Samples deemed of no scientific worth might be safely and responsibly destroyed on-site to get rid of any residual biosecurity dangers. 
• Sustaining progress would require ongoing authorities possession, continued coaching, and vigilance in biosecurity protocols.

Because the work continues, the teachings realized from this operation will function a blueprint for addressing comparable world well being challenges, guaranteeing a safer and more healthy future for all.