Integrated digital system for community engagement and community-based surveillance during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone: lessons for future health emergencies.

Community engagement and community-based surveillance are essential components of responding to infectious disease outbreaks, but real-time data reporting remains a challenge. In the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, the Social Mobilisation Action Consortium was formed to scale-up structured, data-driven community engagement. The consortium became operational across all 14 districts and supported an expansive network of 2500 community mobilisers, 6000 faith leaders and 42 partner radio stations.

National survey of Ebola-related knowledge, attitudes and practices before the outbreak peak in Sierra Leone: August 2014.

Background: The 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic in West Africa was the largest ever to occur. In the early phases, little was known about public knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) relating to Ebola virus disease (Ebola). Data were needed to develop evidence-driven strategies to address gaps in knowledge and practice.

Three-stage repair of a giant inguinal hernia in Sierra Leone: A management technique for low-resource settings.

In this report we discuss the clinical management of a giant inguinal hernia (GIH) in Sierra Leone where surgical resources are severely limited. Though possibly not appropriate for more heavily resourced areas, a three-stage repair proved to be effective and safe for the management of this condition. Careful explanation, good planning and staged operations may be needed for the repair of GIH in low resource settings and we therefore encourage that they be treated by experienced personnel who are able to secure follow up of the patient.