By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) has taken a decisive step to enhance public health safety by installing a thermal imaging camera on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the main terminal entrance of Freetown International Airport. This measure aims to improve Mpox screening protocols as part of ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of the virus and ensure early detection.

The thermal camera system, now fully operational automatically scans the body temperatures of all incoming travelers. Individuals displaying elevated temperatures, a primary symptom of Mpox, will be referred to the airport’s medical unit for further evaluation, in line with guidelines established by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.

Speaking on the enhanced safety measure, SLCAA Director General Madam Musayeroh Barrie emphasized the Authority’s commitment to safeguarding the health of passengers and staff while ensuring seamless airport operations.

“We are taking decisive steps to ensure that airport activities continue without interruption while prioritizing the health of all passengers and staff,” she stated.

In addition to the thermal camera installation, Madam Musayeroh Barrie outlined a multi-faceted public health framework now in place at the Freetown International Airport:

- Advanced Screening Protocols: Any individual, traveler or staff, detected with high body temperature is promptly escorted to the airport’s medical facility for comprehensive assessment before gaining access to the terminal.


- Passenger Education Campaigns: Regular announcements over the airport’s public address system educate passengers on Mpox symptoms and encourage preventive measures, including physical distancing.


- Sanitation Reinforcements: In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, alcohol-based hand sanitizers have been strategically placed throughout the terminal to promote regular hand hygiene, a critical practice given Mpox’s surface and contact-based transmission.


- Vaccination Rollout: Nearly 300 essential airport staff have received Mpox vaccinations. The SLCAA, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, is working to ensure complete vaccination coverage for all airport personnel.

These initiatives are part of a broader national strategy to strengthen disease surveillance at ports of entry and reflect Sierra Leone’s alignment with international health and safety recommendations for air travel.

The SLCAA has urged the traveling public to fully comply with all health and screening procedures, highlighting that collective cooperation is essential to ensuring the safety of all airport users.

Meanwhile, in a related development underscoring Sierra Leone’s aviation modernization drive, the SLCAA on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, welcomed a high-level delegation from the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Western and Central Africa Office (ICAO WACAF). The visit marked the beginning of a critical assessment mission focused on strengthening the country’s meteorological infrastructure and aviation regulatory systems.

During the opening session in Freetown, Madam Musayeroh Barrie reiterated SLCAA’s commitment to sector-wide reform and acknowledged the support of national stakeholders and the White House Office in facilitating the mission.

She explained that the ICAO mission would conduct a gap analysis of Sierra Leone’s aviation data and meteorological systems, with the goal of recommending regulatory improvements and building technical capacity. A key priority of the assessment is to enhance the exchange and distribution of aviation data to support safe and efficient air navigation services.

Sierra Leone’s airspace management falls under the Roberts Flight Information Region (FIR), a cooperative framework shared with Liberia and Guinea. While the Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency (SLMET) provides local weather services, the Roberts FIR oversees upper airspace meteorological watch duties. The Sierra Leone Airports Authority (SLAA) serves as the country’s Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), managing both aerodrome and approach control services.

Highlighting the importance of inter-agency collaboration, Madam Musayeroh Barrie expressed confidence in the professionalism of the SLCAA staff and affirmed the Authority’s full support for the ICAO mission.

“We are optimistic that this mission will guide our journey toward achieving operational excellence and global alignment,” she noted.

The ICAO WACAF mission is expected to produce a comprehensive report outlining actionable steps to enhance Sierra Leone’s aviation safety and regulatory performance. The mission underscores Sierra Leone’s commitment to fostering a safe, modern and internationally compliant aviation environment, not just for its citizens, but for the entire West African region. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/slcaa-installs-thermal-camera-to-enhance-early-detection-of-mpox-at-airport/