The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Monday convened a consultative workshop in Freetown to accelerate the enactment of Sierra Leone’s long-delayed Mental Health Bill.
The meeting, held at the Atlantic Hotel, brought together government officials, parliamentarians, mental health specialists, civil society representatives, and technical experts from across Africa.
Dr. Abdul Jalloh of the Africa CDC Division of Non-communicable Diseases, Injuries, and Mental Health, who led the delegation, said the Bill was first introduced in 2011 but stalled due to limited donor support and weak stakeholder engagement. He noted that the Ministry of Health later took ownership of the process, securing cabinet approval and revising the draft in 2023.
Deputy Health Minister I, Charles Senesshie, described mental health as a “national issue” requiring urgent attention. He said the government has established a Presidential Task Force on Mental Health and facilities for victims of substance abuse, adding that the Bill forms part of President Julius Maada Bio’s human capital development agenda.
Parliament’s Minority Leader, Hon. Abdulai Kargbo, pledged legislative support, saying lawmakers are committed to reviewing and passing the Bill to safeguard the rights of people living with mental health conditions and to integrate services into the national health system.
Africa CDC officials said the Freetown workshop is part of wider efforts to align Sierra Leone’s mental health laws with continental and international frameworks.
If passed, the legislation would strengthen mental health care, expand community-based treatment, and enhance protection for vulnerable populations.
