EPA Leads Nationwide Campaign to Raise Awareness on Lead Poisoning
By Desmond Isaac Macauley
The Environmental Protection Agency Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) held a national workshop on Wednesday 22nd October 2025 as part of its ongoing campaign to observe International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.
The nationwide awareness raising activity began on 20th October, and it will run until 25th October with the theme “No Safe Level Act Now to End Lead Exposure.”
A representative from the Ministry of Health Dr Doris Bah, Director of Environmental Climate Health emphasized that no amount of lead exposure is safe, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women.
She highlighted the invisible and devastating impacts of lead on children, including brain and nervous system damage, reduced intelligence, learning difficulties, and poor academic performance.
Dr. Bah noted that the lack of hospital or community data on lead poisoning should not lead to complacency. “We must not wait for visible statistics before we act,” she warned. “Children, parents, teachers, and community leaders must all help raise awareness. This is not just a government responsibility it’s a shared one” she urged.
She also addressed the dangers of lead exposure in adults, pointing out that it can cause high blood pressure, kidney damage, anaemia, and reproductive health issues.
Edwin Baimba, Director of Environmental Quality Control Management, added that, international bodies like the International Lead Cooperation and development committee continue to call on countries to take firm action. He furthered that, lead exposure is a possessing environmental and health threat that demands national attention.
He introduced the Green Star Lead Free Initiative Regulation Framework that will ensure only lead free products, especially paints, are manufactured and imported into Sierra Leone. According to Baimba, these regulations will be strictly enforced to hold importers and manufacturers accountable for non-compliance.
Representing the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Alfred Moseray, Assistant Director of Policy Planning and Research, reaffirmed the ministry’s full support. “We are committed to eliminating lead paint in Sierra Leone. This is a vital step to protect public health and align with international best practices,” he stated.
Moseray further noted that the ministry will continue working closely with the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau to ensure proper certification and quality control of paints on the market. He also confirmed ongoing collaboration with agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Consumer Protection Commission to raise public awareness and ensure enforcement.
From the private sector, Alhaji Mohamed Konneh, a representative of Lyntex Paints, expressed strong support for the initiative. He confirmed that by 2026, the company would no longer produce any paint containing lead. He acknowledged that, lead was previously used to enhance the shine and durability of paint but stated that safer, less toxic alternatives are now available.
He concluded by affirming Lyntex Paints’ readiness to comply with new EPA regulations. “This is a positive move for the health of our children and adults,” he said. It will protect babies’ brains and adults’ bone marrow. Which in turn will reduce premature deaths. We welcome this shift, and we are proud to be part of it.
