The National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), in collaboration with Ramsy Medical Laboratory, has commenced a nationwide hepatitis B screening and vaccination exercise for its staff, as part of efforts to promote a healthier and more productive workforce. The initiative, which officially began on Monday at NASSIT’s headquarters on Walpole Street, is expected to be rolled out across the institution’s offices nationwide. It aims to ensure early detection, provide preventive care, and enhance awareness of hepatitis B among employees.
Launching the exercise, NASSIT Director General, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, highlighted the critical link between staff welfare and institutional performance. He described employee health as a non-negotiable pillar of the Trust’s operational success, stressing that a physically and mentally fit workforce is essential for the institution to effectively deliver on its mandate of providing social security services to Sierra Leoneans. “A healthy workforce is the bedrock of our productivity,” Mr Daboh said. “By prioritising these screenings, we are not only protecting individual lives but also safeguarding the future of our institution.
Early detection and prevention remain the most cost-effective approaches to managing health risks, and we are committed to ensuring that every staff member has access to these life-saving services.” He urged all staff members to take full advantage of the initiative, assuring them of management’s continued support in promoting workplace health and wellbeing. Also speaking at the event, Dr Jacob Mansaray of Ramsy Medical Laboratory expressed satisfaction with the partnership, noting that corporate health interventions play a vital role in supporting Sierra Leone’s broader public health objectives.
He referenced national efforts to reduce hepatitis B prevalence from 13.8 percent to below 5 percent by 2030, describing the initiative as a meaningful contribution to that goal. Dr Mansaray further noted that Ramsy Medical Laboratory, with over three decades of experience in clinical diagnostics, remains committed to delivering high-quality medical services and technical expertise to strengthen the country’s healthcare system. According to the organisers, the exercise includes hepatitis B screening using high-precision rapid diagnostic test kits, vaccination for individuals who test negative to provide long-term immunity, and personalised clinical counselling sessions.
These one-on-one consultations are designed to help staff understand their test results, adopt preventive measures, and maintain optimal liver health. Health experts have consistently emphasised that hepatitis B remains a major public health concern in Sierra Leone, making initiatives such as this crucial in reducing transmission, improving early diagnosis, and expanding access to preventive care. The nationwide rollout is expected to significantly improve awareness among NASSIT staff while reinforcing the importance of routine health checks and proactive disease prevention in the workplace.
