By Mohamed Lamin Banya
The Ministry of Health has officially launched Sierra Leone’s first Health Travel Portal at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi as part of efforts to strengthen border health security and disease surveillance.
Launching the platform on Friday, Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, said the digital system is designed to improve the monitoring of travellers entering and leaving Sierra Leone while enhancing the country’s ability to detect and respond to potential public health threats.
The portal allows travellers to electronically submit their travel history and required health documentation at least 72 hours before departure or arrival in Sierra Leone. The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to the Ministry, the centralized platform will verify health information and travel documents, improve screening processes at border entry points, and provide travellers with up-to-date information on health requirements.
Dr. Demby described the portal as an important innovation that will strengthen public health preparedness and improve the overall travel experience for passengers.
He reaffirmed the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to protecting the health and safety of citizens and visitors and said the new system will help the country respond more effectively to public health emergencies.
