Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has appointed Brigadier General Prof. Foday Sahr as the National Coordinator of the National Task Force on Drug and Substance Abuse.
As the National Coordinator of the Task Force, Prof. Sahr will leverage his expertise to coordinate efforts across ministries and sectors, prioritising the key pillars outlined by President Bio in his national address: prevention, care and treatment, social support, law enforcement, and community engagement.
Prof. Sahr brings extensive experience from governance to security and medical expertise to this new role, especially in coordinating and mobilising multi-stakeholder groups as demonstrated during his leadership with Sierra Leone’s Ebola and COVID-19 responses.
As a distinguished Medical Microbiologist, he is recognised for his significant contributions during the West African Ebola outbreak. His research efforts led to the adoption of intravenous infusion as a standard of care for Ebola patients, significantly reducing mortality rates from 90% to approximately 40% in Sierra Leone.
As the Technical Lead for the COVID-19 Response, Prof. Sahr played a key role in developing internationally recognised protocols, resulting in one of the lowest mortality rates globally.
He also served as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone and Surgeon General of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces. Currently, Prof. Sahr serves as the Executive Director of the National Public Health agency.
His appointment underscores President Bio’s commitment to combatting drug and substance abuse and promoting public health.
“We are confident that his leadership will ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing this problem, paving the way for tangible progress and transformative impact in our communities,” the release stated.