By: Mohamed Sahr
In a bid to strengthen job creation, career growth, and enhance both institutional and personnel potential, the Directorate of Human Resources for Health at the Ministry of Health has launched a two-day Scheme of Service Validation Workshop on Wednesday, November 12th 2025, at the Njala Venue, Freetown.
When making his keynote address, Dr. Charles Senesie, Deputy Minister of Health, emphasized that the health sector focuses on four key areas: quality of care, infrastructure, and human resource architecture. He stressed that the health workforce needs to be continually motivated and inspired.
Dr. Senesie expressed his appreciation for the leadership of the Permanent Secretary, acknowledging his efforts in improving the human resource landscape within the sector.
“This is a significant milestone in the health sector, especially in the implementation of a Scheme of Service,” Dr. Senesie stated.
Andrew Sorie, Senior Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, highlighted that the Scheme of Service offers a clear vision for the Ministry’s future. He acknowledged the challenges the scheme has faced in the past but noted that these issues have been addressed thanks to the efforts of the Directorate of Human Resources for Health.
He further emphasized that professional growth and staff development can only be effective if a robust Scheme of Service is in place. “The Scheme of Service is the structure that speaks to the Ministry. We want all of this to be predictable and transparent,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary also pointed out that career advancement is tied to skills and standards. He explained that the Scheme of Service provides a framework for proficiency and predictability.
“It is our sacred responsibility to contribute to the growth of the Ministry,” he said, describing the development of the Scheme of Service as both an art and a science that speaks to various cadre leads.
He urged participants to defend their thoughts passionately and to stand against any form of domination.
Dr. Sartie Kanneh, Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health, praised the numerous training opportunities available across all health sectors, which he attributed to the Scheme of Service. He emphasized that the Ministry’s focus is competency-based, combining both academic and professional qualifications.
Dr. Kanneh also stressed that the Scheme of Service must supersede the standards of other institutions’ cadres or grants.
He called for collective input, urging that everyone must be guided by the Scheme of Service in their professional journey.
Prof. Sanjoy Nayak, International Consultant for UNICEF, the Ministry of Health, and the Directorate of Human Resources for Health, explained that the Scheme of Service is updated every five years. He noted that it is part of an international classification for health workers, who represent some of the most complex categories of workers worldwide. He affirmed that the Scheme of Service adheres to international best practices.
Sellu Keifala, Deputy Director of Human Resources for Health at the Ministry of Health, provided a summary of the validation document. He explained that the document was a submission made by the respective cadre leads with the support of an international consultant. He outlined that the primary goal was to remove obsolete roles that no longer meet the Ministry’s human resource needs.
Keifala also emphasized that the Scheme of Service should both incorporate new strategies and expand service training opportunities, creating clear career pathways to support continuous professional development for health workers.