Our Legal Mandate
The NPHA was established through the Public Health Act of 2022 (Act No. 17 of 2023), which replaced the 1960 Public Health Ordinance. The Act grants the agency full authority to lead national public health promotion, disease prevention and control, and emergency coordination, based on the One Health approach and community-driven action.
Our Leadership
The NPHA is led by Brigadier General Professor Foday Sahr, a seasoned public health expert and visionary leader committed to building a modern, responsive, and accountable public health system in Sierra Leone.
He is supported by Dr. Mohamed Alex Vandi, a vastly experienced medical practitioner with over twenty years of experience in public health response and leadership expertise.
Organizational Structure
The NPHA is composed of six core Directorates: Directorate of Surveillance and Epidemiology, Directorate of Biomedical Services, Directorate of Policy, Planning and Research (DPPR), Directorate of Finance and Logistics, Directorate of Administration and Human Resources and Directorate of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT). Each providing an organizational anchor for evidence-based policymaking and public health systems strengthening. Together, they enable a more consistent, data-driven, and effective response to public health threats across the country.
Key functions include:
- Public health promotion and protection
- Infectious disease surveillance and control
- Early detection and coordinated emergency response
- Strengthening local and national health systems
- Multisectoral collaboration and international compliance
- One Health approach implementation
Key Partnerships
The NPHA collaborates closely with: