By: Audrey Raymonda John
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. William Fayia Sellu, has officially welcomed 40 nursing and midwifery students from Njala University who are beginning a 12-week internship at the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) Hospital in Kingtom.
During the welcome ceremony, the Deputy Director and Medical Superintendent of the Police Hospital, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dr. John Mumuneh Konteh, noted that while the hospital has hosted student interns over the years, this group is the largest to date. He added that the students will undergo performance evaluations at the end of the internship.
Addressing the interns, IGP Sellu described the initiative as a major milestone for the Police Hospital, which he emphasized continues to rank among Sierra Leone’s top medical facilities. He highlighted that this internship is a unique opportunity for the students, who will also gain valuable experience by working alongside international medical experts expected to provide free healthcare services in the country.
The IGP further revealed that some of the interns may be recruited into the Sierra Leone Police in the future to help strengthen the SLP’s expanding medical services across the nation. He encouraged the students to uphold discipline and professionalism throughout the program, reminding them that they represent not only themselves but also their families and Njala University.
In his remarks, IGP Sellu also shared the SLP’s broader institutional plans, stating that the police force is committed to building health centers nationwide, a vision inspired by President Brigadier (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to expanding the health sector.
He urged the interns to maximize their learning during the internship and assured them of the hospital management’s full support in overcoming any challenges.
Concluding the ceremony, IGP Sellu highlighted the historic nature of the occasion, noting that this is the first time in the Police Hospital’s more than 30 years of existence that such a large-scale internship program has been organized.