Dr. Austin Demby, the Minister of Health in Sierra Leone, continues to impress global health leaders with the country’s ongoing healthcare sector transformation. At the 2025 Annual Meetings of the Health Works Leaders Coalition Roundtable in Washington, Dr. Demby represented President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone. He was joined by other distinguished leaders, including Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group; Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization; and Atsushi Mimura, Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs of Japan.
Dr. Demby reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a healthcare system that works for all citizens. He highlighted that Sierra Leone’s healthcare system is driven by results-oriented initiatives and anchored in a bold vision for sustainability, focusing on delivering quality care even in the face of global climate risks and public health challenges.
“We are expanding access and building quality behind that access,” the Minister stated. “Our plan is to increase the number of primary healthcare units from 1,600 to 2,000 by 2030. Already, 85% of our population lives within a 5-km radius of a health facility, which demonstrates a significant level of access. However, we must now complement that access with quality by ensuring these facilities are resilient, well-equipped, adequately staffed, and powered by renewable solar energy.”
Dr. Demby also highlighted key achievements in other areas of the healthcare sector. Notably, Sierra Leone has made significant investments in renewable solar power, with over 380 health facilities now fully electrified with 24-hour renewable energy. The country is also making substantial progress in healthcare infrastructure, with modern facilities being constructed nationwide, and a major expansion of the health workforce. To date, more than 8,000 health professionals have been recruited, with 10,000 volunteers transitioning to payroll, and 25,000 community health workers the majority of whom are women set to anchor the primary healthcare system.
Additionally, Sierra Leone has revamped its ambulance system, leading to substantial improvements in service delivery. These achievements underscore the country’s determination to fully transition to a healthcare sector that meets the needs of its people.
“We invite our partners to join us, not in starting a journey, but in accelerating a transformation that is already underway,” the Minister concluded.
