12th November, 2025
Freetown, Sierra Leone.
In a decisive move to strengthen national health security and digital preparedness, the Government of Sierra Leone, with support from the Jhpiego/RISE Project, convened a two-day technical workshop focused on optimizing the country’s Travel Portal system and enhancing operational readiness across all Points of Entry (PoEs).
The workshop brought together key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), the Ministry of Agriculture, Freetown International Airport Management, and partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa CDC, and leading technology experts. This multi-sectoral collaboration reflects Sierra Leone’s commitment to reinforcing border health surveillance and ensuring rapid, coordinated responses to public health threats.
The sessions were designed to review the current development status of the Travel Portal and assess its readiness for full operationalization. Participants identified technical gaps and proposed actionable solutions to improve system performance. The workshop also benchmarked Sierra Leone’s system against international best practices, drawing lessons from other countries’ travel portals to inform local enhancements. A key focus was placed on improving system functionality, user experience, and data management, while also strengthening integration with national digital health systems such as DHIS2.
For the National Public Health Agency, the Travel Portal is a critical tool in fulfilling its mandate to protect public health at the nation’s borders. The system enables timely detection of potential health risks, supports contact tracing, and facilitates evidence-based decision-making during outbreaks and emergencies. Optimizing the portal enhances NPHA’s capacity to coordinate surveillance, quarantine, and response protocols in alignment with international health regulations.
At the Points of Entry, the portal serves as a frontline digital infrastructure, streamlining traveler screening, automating health declarations, and improving data accuracy. Enhanced interoperability ensures that airport, seaport, and land border officials can access real-time information, reducing delays and improving the traveler experience while upholding rigorous health standards.
By the conclusion of the workshop, stakeholders had achieved a shared understanding of the Travel Portal’s current status and identified priority areas for improvement. They developed a set of practical, context-specific recommendations for system optimization and operational readiness. Participants also gained insights from international travel systems and drafted a framework for data flow and system interoperability. A joint action plan was outlined, detailing next steps for nationwide rollout and long-term sustainability.
This initiative marks a pivotal moment in Sierra Leone’s digital health transformation. It reinforces the country’s commitment to health security, data-driven governance, and regional leadership in border health innovation. By investing in digital infrastructure and fostering multi-sectoral collaboration, Sierra Leone is building a resilient, responsive public health system, one that protects citizens, strengthens global health partnerships, and sets a new standard for operational excellence at Points of Entry.
Public Relations Unit NPHA-SL