The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) program has expanded its partnerships with Khalimat Shahad Hospital, Rogbureh Community, and Graceland Hospital in Makeni to boost awareness and implementation of the Adult Minimal Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS) 2.0 project. The initiative seeks to uncover the underlying causes of adult deaths to guide public health interventions and improve health outcomes nationwide.
During the engagement, Abdulai Othman Bah, CHAMPS’ Social and Behavioral Lead, explained the Adult MITS process, including family consent, prescreening for Sickle Cell Disease, Hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS, and conducting the full procedure. He also highlighted complementary projects such as Pregnancy Surveillance and the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), which collectively support better health data collection and research.
Emmanuel Jah, CHAMPS Communications Manager, reaffirmed the program’s commitment to supporting the Ministry of Health through data-driven planning, disease surveillance, and policy development, noting that accurate data is essential for shaping effective health responses.
Dr. Sow, lead physician at Khalimat Shahad Hospital, praised CHAMPS for its collaborative approach and reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to advancing community health through evidence-based initiatives.
Through the Adult MITS 2.0 project, CHAMPS continues to strengthen Sierra Leone’s health system by promoting research, capacity building, and community engagement aimed at reducing preventable deaths and improving overall public health.
