NMSA and Partners Review Emergency Supply Chain Playbook
NMSA Public Relations
As the logistics pillar lead in emergency supply chain management in the country, the National Medical Supplies Agency (NMSA) with support from the Global Fund has together with other key partners has ended a two-day review and update workshop on the Emergency Supply Chain Playbook. The Emergency Supply Chain Playbook was developed few years ago as a vital component of public health emergency preparedness and response, to serve as a guide in responding to health emergencies in Sierra Leone.
Since it was developed, the Emergency Supply Chian Playbook has been updated to reflect past emergencies that included; COVID 19, burn injuries, flooding, the Anthrax outbreak in Northern Sierra Leone and the Avian Flu in neighboring Guinea.
The current Mpox outbreak has ignited the critical need to review the Emergency Supply Chian Playbook to incorporate specific response strategies and strengthen Sierra Leone’s national preparedness.
The two-day review and update engagement in Bo Southern Sierra Leone, focused on lessons learnt from previous emergencies, and the integration of Mpox-specific response measures into the playbook.
Discussions from the engagement were centered on Coordination and Governance, Logistics and Distribution (pre-positioning of supplies), Data and Information Systems, Infection Prevention Control (IPC) and Case Management Integration, local capacity building (gap identification) and the enhancement of community engagement in distribution insights.
It is the believe that an effective emergency supply chain playbook is not only a vital tool for public health emergency preparedness and response, but serves as an investment in a robust supply chain system that not only save lives but also reduces the financial burden during public health emergencies.
The update and review of this playbook will be followed by a simulation of the updated work in the next few weeks to ascertain it application to current realities.