By: Precious Miracle Kargbo Snr
Senior health officials have opened a two-day Hospital Annual Performance Review Meeting at Tokeh Beach, reaffirming their commitment to achieving the “Triple Zero” targets: zero preventable maternal deaths, zero preventable child deaths, and zero stock-outs of essential medical supplies. The goal is to strengthen health systems through improved accountability, coordination, and teamwork.
The meeting, convened by the Ministry of Health’s Directorate of Hospital and Ambulance Services, is being held from 7-8 May 2026 under the theme: “Accelerating Action Towards Triple Zero: Strengthening Hospital Systems for Improved Maternal and Child Health Outcomes.”
Chairing the opening session, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (Clinical), Dr. Mustapha Kabba, highlighted both progress and ongoing challenges in the health sector over the past year. He stressed the importance of structured, results-driven reform anchored in committed leadership.
Dr. Kabba referenced the performance contracts signed between medical superintendents and the Minister of Health, which focus on key performance indicators aimed at improving hospital services. He commended high-performing facilities and encouraged others to improve their outcomes.
He also highlighted the ongoing “300 Days Campaign” aimed at reducing preventable maternal and child deaths, noting that outstanding districts are being recognized for strong performance. He expressed optimism about the reported reductions in maternal and child mortality rates.
The Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer (CNMO) emphasized that teamwork, effective delegation, and community engagement are essential to achieving institutional health goals.
She reported an increase in patient access and service utilization between 2024 and 2025, alongside a decline in mortality rates. She further stressed the importance of continuous professional development, including the adoption of new technologies, and called for stronger in-house training and mentorship systems.
She also underscored the need for basic medical supplies such as blood pressure machines and gloves, describing them as essential for effective healthcare delivery. She thanked the Ministry of Health for recognizing the critical role of nurses and midwives in primary healthcare, maternal health, emergency response, and community outreach.
Delivering the keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Andrew Sorie, emphasized the need for improved hospital services and stronger accountability systems.
She described accurate data collection as the foundation for effective decision-making and improved patient satisfaction. She noted that outpatient visits, admissions, and bed occupancy rates should be consistently tracked as key performance indicators.
The Permanent Secretary also highlighted the importance of teamwork, discipline, and transparency among healthcare workers. She urged hospital leaders to communicate more effectively with the public and the media to strengthen trust and encourage greater service utilization.
She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, and performance-based healthcare delivery.
Collectively, the remarks set a clear direction for the review: focus on measurable outcomes, equip frontline health workers, and ensure accountability across all levels of the health system.
The “Triple Zero” agenda frames maternal and child health as a systems-wide responsibility requiring coordination from hospitals to national leadership.
Delegates from hospitals across Sierra Leone will review 2024–2025 performance data, share best practices, and agree on targets for the coming year. The sessions will assess the impact of performance contracts, evaluate the 300 Days Campaign, and address gaps in equipment, mentorship, and data quality highlighted by health leaders.
While officials note improvements in mortality rates and increased service utilization, they stress that sustaining progress will require continued investment in human resources, medical supplies, training, and data systems.
The meeting, held at The Place Resort in Tokeh, represents a renewed push to translate health policy into measurable improvements in patient outcomes. Over the next two days, participants will assess how strengthened accountability, teamwork, and community engagement can further advance the “Triple Zero” vision.