ReBUILD for Resilience
The Institute for Development (IfD) works in close partnership with the District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) in the districts (Moyamba and Kailahun) where ReBUILD for Resilience is implemented. Together they identified and mapped out key stakeholders essential to the effective functioning and resilience of Sierra Leone’s health systems.
The project coordinates two activities to facilitate discussion and communication of vital health issues in the districts.
Activities:
Monthly stakeholder meetings- the project organizes monthly stakeholder meetings, in collaboration with DHMTs, to ensure ongoing dialogue among these identified stakeholders. A focal person, appointed by the DHMT, is responsible for leading these meetings, ensuring they take place regularly and fostering an environment where all participants feel empowered to voice their concerns and ideas. These meetings are essential for pinpointing the most pressing health issues that need to be addressed.
Radio Discussions- Following the stakeholder meetings, the ReBUILD for Resilience project facilitates radio discussions that serve to communicate the outcomes of these meetings to the wider community. These two-hour radio sessions are designed to inform the public about the key issues discussed by stakeholders and to engage the community directly. The first hour is dedicated to summarizing the stakeholder discussions, while the second hour allows listeners to ask questions and provide feedback through calls and text messages. This ensures that the broader community is directly involved in the conversation about health system improvements.
Team members:
Dr Ayesha Idriss – Principal Investigator
A highly accomplished pharmacist and multidisciplinary researcher. Dr Idriss was a key member of the team that conducted the Sierra Leone Trial to introduce a vaccine against Ebola and she has contributed significantly to the NIHR Research Unit on Health in Situations of Fragility (RUHF) project.
Augustus Osborne – Research Fellow
He is a motivated public health researcher with extensive experience in health systems strengthening, maternal and child health, and women’s health in fragile and resource-limited settings. He has investigated multidisciplinary projects producing actionable insights that have informed health policies and interventions, and has authored over 90 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, contributing to global health discourse.
Tima Brewah- Research Fellow
Holds a master’s degree in public health and a BSc in Pharmacy (Hons). Brewah has a strong public health perspective due to her previous work with UNICEF and WHO.
Halimatu Kamara- Researcher
Holds a MSc in Public Health and has significant experience coordinating activities due to her previous work at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Sierra Leone.
Michael Manu- Field Researcher
A public health professional with a robust background in community health program management and strategy implementation. Manu’s expertise spans policy development, public health education, and community engagement. Further he holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Njala University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the same field.
Tamba Morris- Field Researcher
A public health specialist with over four years of experience, currently serving as a Community Health Officer. Morris holds a first-class Honours BSc in Public Health from Njala University and has notably contributed to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates and enhancing immunization coverage in his chiefdom.
