During the first week of October 2022, CHAMPS Principal Investigator and Executive Director, Dr. Cynthia (Cyndy) Whitney traveled to both the Northern and Southern provinces of Sierra Leone accompanied by Dr. Chris Rees from the CHAMPS Program Office and Mr. Chris Culver from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Over the course of this visit, the group met with the Sierra Leone CHAMPS site team, top leadership of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Board Members of the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital Complex, local implementing partners, and local leaders and community members, to discuss and celebrate the progress of several community initiatives. 

During her time in the Northern province, Cyndy and several CHAMPS Sierra Leone site members joined the Masuba Village members in Bombali District for an engaging community meeting.  

Cyndy also paid a visit to the Special Care Babies Unit located in the Bo Government Hospital. She was welcomed by Dr. Joy Nalley Nwala, Pediatrician-in–Charge, and Ms. Carrie Jo Cain, the CHAMPS Sierra Leone Surveillance Lead. Dr. Joy provided updates on how her unit is working collaboratively with CHAMPS to better identify causes of death and improve outcomes. Dr. Andrew Moseray, the CHAMPS Coordinator at the Bo site, led the delegation to meet with the Bo Government Hospital Management Team and to undertake a guided tour of CHAMPS services and infrastructural support within the hospital. 

Also in Bo, Cyndy attended a community meeting at Majihun Village in the Sendeh Section of Bo District. There she met with Village Chief Mustapha Kabba. This was both an informative and celebratory meeting with discussions on prevention of malaria and other causes of adult death in the community.