Sierra Leonean risk communication professional Patrick Lansana has been elected Vice President of the ECOWAS Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Network. He was elected at the just-concluded three-day regional capacity-building workshop on Risk Communication and Community Engagement, organised by the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) in Abuja, Nigeria.
The network brings together risk communication professionals from ECOWAS member states who work within the RCSDC framework. Its role is to coordinate regional public health communication, build trust and resilience in local communities, and manage health misinformation during disease outbreaks and emergencies.
Patrick works for Sierra Leone’s National Public Health Agency (NPHA) as Programme Manager for the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Pillar. He was unanimously elected by his professional colleagues.
Bissau-Guinean Da Silva Estevão was elected President at the same event, while Paul Alle Kouadio of Côte d’Ivoire was elected General Secretary. Kpogbeme Pricile of Benin and Hannatu Bello of Nigeria were elected First and Second Assistant Secretaries, respectively.
The NPHA-SL hailed Patrick’s election as recognition of his leadership and commitment to strengthening risk communication in Sierra Leone and across the region.
“This well-deserved achievement is a significant recognition of your exceptional leadership, professional excellence, unwavering commitment, and outstanding contributions to strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement, behavioural intelligence, and infodemic management in Sierra Leone and across the West African region,” the agency said in a statement.
Patrick has played an instrumental role in the development and advancement of Sierra Leone’s Behavioural Intelligence and Infodemic Management (BIIM) System. He is also recognised for his tireless efforts in promoting community-centred, evidence-informed and people-focused public health interventions.
The NPHA described his election as “a proud moment for Sierra Leone,” noting that it reflected the growing recognition of the country’s leadership and expertise in RCCE, public health preparedness, epidemic intelligence and emergency response.
The Abuja workshop was designed to enable participants to exchange ideas and expertise on current public health issues, particularly the ongoing Ebola outbreak in East Africa. Organisers said it also provided an opportunity to strengthen the capacity of RCSDC members and build on existing operational mechanisms.
