By Henry Neondo
A new operational research initiative is helping strengthen the fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria in Sierra Leone by equipping health professionals with data-driven skills to improve frontline health responses and inform national policy.
The initiative is part of the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) led by World Health Organization’s Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR – Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases). The program supports countries in generating practical evidence from real-world health programs to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.
Researchers say the initiative is critical for countries seeking to accelerate progress toward the health-related targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3.3, which aims to end epidemics of infectious diseases by 2030.
The research highlighted in the latest issue of Public Health Action addresses practical questions raised by healthcare workers dealing with HIV, TB and malaria in clinics and community health facilities across Sierra Leone. The studies examine issues such as viral load testing among children on antiretroviral therapy, treatment outcomes for TB patients, and retention of pregnant women living with HIV in healthcare systems.
By focusing on operational research—studies conducted within routine health programs—the initiative aims to ensure that countries become both producers and consumers of research knowledge, enabling local data to guide decision-making.
“SORT IT strengthens staff capacity, drives program impact, and generates local evidence to guide Sierra Leone’s HIV, TB, and malaria strategies,” said S. Lakoh, Director of Disease Prevention and Control at the country’s Ministry of Health and a national mentor for the program.
Global Collaboration to Strengthen Health Systems
The current SORT IT course in Sierra Leone brought together 19 institutions from around the world, fostering global partnerships and communities of practice focused on strengthening public health research capacity.
According to program coordinators, the initiative equips participants with skills in data analysis, research design, and evidence-based advocacy. These skills help national health programs identify disease hotspots, monitor treatment outcomes, and improve surveillance systems.
For example, malaria program manager A. Mac-Falama said the training enabled teams to better identify malaria transmission hotspots and design targeted interventions aimed at elimination.
Informing Policy and Funding
The initiative is also influencing national planning and international funding strategies. Programs supported by the The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Sierra Leone are increasingly integrating operational research into their strategic plans and grant applications.
Experts say this approach ensures that funding decisions and health policies are based on locally generated evidence rather than external assumptions.
Globally, SORT IT has expanded to 97 countries and supported more than 1,000 research projects, with about 70 percent of resulting publications influencing policy or practice in participating countries.
Public health experts believe that strengthening operational research capacity is key to achieving universal health coverage and improving accountability in health systems.
Researchers say such evidence-based approaches will be critical if countries are to meet global targets for controlling HIV, TB and malaria while strengthening health systems across Africa.