On Wednesday, 25 February 2026, at the Ministry of Health (MoH) Conference Hall, Youyi Building, the Directorate of Hospital and Ambulance Services (DHAS) convened a strategic coordination meeting with hospital partners.
The meeting brought together Senior Permanent Secretary Mr. Andrew Sorie; Deputy Chief Medical Officer (Clinical Services), Dr. med Mustapha Sundifu Kabba; Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Dr. Patricia Bah; Director of DHAS, Mr. Ibrahim Foday-Musa; DHAS consultants and staff; representatives from other MOH directorates; and partners including Welbodi Partnership, CUAMM, Seed Global Health, Partners In Health, AISPO, JICA, Mama Pikin Foundation, Concern Worldwide, and UNICEF.
Chairing the meeting, Dr. Kabba emphasized the need for stronger coordination and alignment of partner support across regions, noting disparities in coverage and duplication of efforts. He highlighted ongoing investments in hospital construction, medical equipment, and specialized training, which have increased the number of specialist doctors nationwide. However, he stressed challenges remain in human resource shortages, staff deployment and retention, and strengthening referral systems between primary health care units and hospitals.
Dr. Patricia Bah reflected on recent leadership training for matrons across all 16 districts, where key service delivery challenges were identified, including absenteeism, data quality gaps, weak teamwork, drug supply issues, and coordination gaps. She emphasized the collective commitment to achieving zero preventable maternal deaths and strengthening referral systems, clinical response, and teamwork within hospitals, noting that the “300 Days” initiative serves as a catalyst for long-term systemic improvement.
Presenting DHAS’s strategic direction, Mr. Ibrahim Foday-Musa outlined progress in strengthening governance systems, improving coordination mechanisms, and advancing hospital service delivery reforms. Partner support mapping was also presented, with partners sharing their contributions and challenges.