Public Health Ordinance 1960 (No. 23 of 1960).

This Act provides with respect to matters of public health in Sierra Leone, including, among other things, water supply, drainage, water pollution, sanitation, hygiene and wholesomeness of food, the control of animals, and nuisances. The Minister of Health shall be the principal authority for purposes of this Act. he or she may by order declare any area in Sierra Leone to be- (a) an Urban Health Area (b) a rural Health Area: (c) a Port Health Area or (d) a Labour Health Area, and appoint any person or body of persons to be the Health Authority of any Health Area. Every Health Authority shall, as far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that every school in its Health Area has available within a reasonable distance a sufficient supply of wholesome water for domestic purposes. It shall also ensure potable water for a Port Health Area and may apply to court if a source of water is likely to become polluted so as to be prejudicial to health. The Court may cause the water to be analyzed. Where in any Health Area an adequate public supply of potable water is provided, the Health Authority may by notice in the Gazette order the closure of any nearby wells. The Act also provides for the saving of water rights of owners of rivers, canals, reservoirs against actions of a Health Authority.
The Act prohibits the sale of food intended for, but unfit, for human consumption and provides with respect to food inspection. A Health Authority shall establish public slaughterhouses in its area and no person shall slaughter in any Health Area any animal intended for food for human consumption except at a public slaughter-house or public slaughter place or otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this Act or of any rules made thereunder. Some provisions concern the control of animals for public health reasons.