Network AID working partner, The African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), represented by its Head of Advocacy, ~Policy  Engagement and Comminications~, Grace Kibunja and  Senior Research Officer, Kenneth Juma, have paid a courtesy call on the Statistician-General of Stats SL, Andrew Bob Johnny and his leadership team. The purpose of the courtesy call amongst other things is to strengthen the bilateral working relationship between APHRC, a non-profit pan-African research institution headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, which focuses on conducting high-quality, policy-relevant research on population, health, education, and urbanisation in sub-Saharan Africa and Stats SL, Sierra Leone’s National Statistics Office, through the renewal of an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

 
In his statement, the Statistician General, Andrew Bob Johnny, emphasised the importance of the collaboration, highlighting the shared goals which aligns with the vision of research on mental health as well as the  study on the incidences of unsafe abortion study, which  Stats SL had conducted with APHRC. A comprehensive overview of the proposed MOU and work plan was presented. 

The Deputy Statistician General, Lansana Kpewolo Kanneh and directors, each with their specific areas of expertise, chimed in with insightful comments and suggestions.

The conversation delved into the complexity of the planned projects, exploring methodologies, timelines, and potential challenges. Despite the seriousness of the topics, an air of collaboration and mutual respect pervaded the room. As the discussion unfolded, it became evident that the collaboration extended beyond mere statistics. It was about fostering a partnership dedicated to the well-being of the nation. The meeting concluded with a consensus to organize a follow-up session, where the team would delve deeper into the work plan, identifying key milestones and crafting a strategy for implementation.

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The Statistician-General, his team, and the representatives from the African Population and Health Research Centre left the office with a shared sense of purpose. The Proposed MOU was not just a piece of paper; it was a commitment to generating valuable data that would contribute to the improvement of mental health, safe abortion practices and other health areas in Sierra Leone. Stats SL’s journey with APHRC had started in  2019 , but the collaborative spirit in the room made it appear like it had just begun and it would undoubtedly pave the way for a healthier and more informed future.

Network AID whole-heartedly support. APHRC and Starts-SL partnership.

Credit: Stats SL