By Ibrahim Sesay 

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), convened a strategic Stakeholder Advocacy Workshop on September 15, 2025, at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel in Freetown to advance the enactment of the Sierra Leone Mental Health Bill. The event brought together Parliamentarians, policymakers, Judiciary representatives, technical experts, Civil Society Organizations, Persons with Lived Experience, international partners and the media to deliberate on the urgent need for a modern mental health law to replace the outdated Lunacy Act of 1902.

Speakers highlighted the country’s pressing mental health challenges, shaped by years of civil conflict, the Ebola and COVID-19 epidemics and ongoing threats such as the kush epidemic and the mpox outbreak. Andrew Lawrence P. Sorie, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, described the deep psychological wounds left by Sierra Leone’s 11-year civil war and subsequent crises. He stressed that the new bill seeks to restore dignity, uphold human rights and provide compassionate care, moving beyond the archaic Lunacy Act. “The process of this bill is not just about changing a law; it is about changing lives,” Andrew Lawrence P. Sorie said, while expressing gratitude to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners for their support.

Lawmakers at the workshop pledged to push the bill through Parliament. Honorable Abdul Kargbo, Minority Leader in Parliament, underscored that mental health is inseparable from national development. “Without addressing mental health, there can be no comprehensive healthcare system, especially for a country like Sierra Leone,” Honorable Abdul Kargbo said, noting the scars left by war, epidemics and economic hardship. The Minority Leader assured that Parliament would review the bill, enact progressive legislation and allocate substantial resources in the upcoming national budget. He further pledged oversight to ensure that commitments translate into real services rather than remain “on paper.”

Professor Taiwo Lateef Sheikh, Representative of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention NCD/MH Advisory Committee, placed the initiative in a continental context, noting that the workshop aligns with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2023–2026 Strategic Plan to address non-communicable diseases, injuries and mental health. He stressed the importance of enacting laws that dismantle stigma and facilitate access to services, pointing to examples from Kenya, Nigeria and Malawi. “We need laws that will remove barriers to service seeking and uptake,” Professor Taiwo Lateef Sheikh remarked, reaffirming the commitment of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to support Sierra Leone.

Professor Dr. Charles Senesie, Deputy Minister 1 of the Ministry of Health, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to integrating mental health into the national universal health coverage agenda. He described mental health as a “critical component of healthcare delivery” under the life-safe model, which prioritizes physical, mental and social well-being from conception to old age. Professor Dr. Charles Senesie cited ongoing initiatives such as the renovation of mental health facilities, the training of nine residents and 30 mental health nurses and the establishment of both a Presidential Task Force on Mental Health and a National Task Force on Drug and Substance Abuse. “The president has made it clear: mental health is a national issue,” Professor Dr. Charles Senesie emphasized.

Dr. Abdul Jalloh, Director of Mental Health and Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, traced the development of the Mental Health Bill, noting that initial advocacy began in 2011 with the Mental Health Coalition. He explained that the bill, presented to Parliament on July 18, 2025, is now awaiting debate and passage. Dr. Abdul Jalloh outlined the bill’s provisions, which include the establishment of a National Mental Health Directorate, the protection of patient rights, frameworks for voluntary and involuntary admissions, confidentiality and safeguards against abuse. The bill also addresses issues affecting minors, community care and the intersection of mental health with the criminal justice system. “The bill seeks to repeal the 1902 Lunacy Act and replace it with a rights-based framework that ensures accountability and financing,” Dr. Abdul Jalloh stated.

The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to align Sierra Leone’s mental health framework with international human rights standards and African best practices. With the bill now before Parliament, stakeholders vowed to intensify advocacy and resource mobilization to ensure that Sierra Leone takes a decisive step toward a progressive mental health system that reflects both compassion and justice. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/ministry-of-health-partners-with-africa-cdc-to-advance-mental-health-reform/