By: Mohamed Sahr
In a landmark moment for healthcare development, His Excellency Professor Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, applauded Sierra Leone’s healthcare transformation during his courtesy visit to the Ministry of Health on Thursday, 12th March 2026.
Professor Osinbajo expressed admiration for the country’s health facilities and the dedication of its well-trained medical personnel, particularly at the President Julius Maada Bio Paediatric Centre of Excellence and the National Health Information Hub.
He highlighted that Sierra Leone has established a model of excellence and best practices in healthcare delivery. “The country has made tremendous progress in the health system, especially in specialized care and quality service,” Prof. Osinbajo said.
The former Vice President also noted that the paediatric care unit has a clear vision, with state-level authorities emphasizing basic healthcare. He commended the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Health, for significantly reducing maternal mortality which previously exceeded 70% as well as child mortality rates nationwide. “This demonstrates Sierra Leone’s commitment to providing quality healthcare services to its citizens,” he affirmed.
Prof. Osinbajo further emphasized that with the international experience of Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health and the expertise of local medical professionals, the country is becoming a model for other nations in healthcare positioning. He expressed pride in the Ministry of Health’s work across all sectors and noted that the advanced level of medical care and financing attracted his delegation to Sierra Leone to learn from its system.
Responding to the visit, Austin Demby described it as an honour. He highlighted the impact of the National Health Information Hub on Prof. Osinbajo, noting that the centre provides high-quality data and analytics. Dr. Demby explained that the government plans to expand such data centres to national and district levels, improving the tracking of maternal and child health outcomes.
He also recognized Prof. Osinbajo as a champion for climate change, environmental issues, and health in Nigeria, stating that his presence brings hope and opportunities for collaboration in Sierra Leone’s healthcare transformation. “Over the next few months, we will establish similar data and information facilities at the district level,” Dr. Demby affirmed.
Dr. Mustapha Kabba described the visit as highly significant, especially at a time when Sierra Leone’s healthcare system is achieving outstanding progress.
