In a significant boost to Sierra Leone’s healthcare infrastructure, the Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has handed over a state-of-the-art pediatric hospital valued at $16.6 million to support President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s health service delivery agenda.
The President Dr. Julius Maada Bio Pediatric Centre of Excellence, equipped with modern medical facilities, features a bed capacity of 166 for patients and 46 for mothers in the Special Baby Care Unit. The hospital includes an emergency room, operation theatre, special outpatient clinic, pediatric intensive care unit, high-dependency unit, isolation unit, surgical ward, oncology special care unit, kangaroo mother care unit, and a special baby care unit.
Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha lauded the new facility as one of the best in the region in terms of equipment, facilities, and bed capacity. She highlighted the overcrowding at the 160-bed Ola During Hospital, which prompted President Bio to seek assistance from Japan to construct the new pediatric centre.
Hon. Tawa Conteh, Member of Parliament for Constituency 132 and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, noted that the project’s success was facilitated by the government’s compensation of thousands of squatters occupying the land. He thanked the Lumley community for their cooperation and vigilance during the construction.
JICA Chief Representative in Sierra Leone, Madam Suzuki Momoko, remarked on the significance of the occasion, noting the hospital’s advanced equipment and its potential to enhance paediatric healthcare in Sierra Leone.
Health Minister Dr. Austin Demby praised President Bio for his leadership and commitment to universal health coverage. President Bio reflected on the hospital’s inception, driven by alarming infant mortality rates and overcrowding at existing facilities. He expressed gratitude to the Japanese Government and JICA for their timely completion of the project, and to the Ministry of Health and Ola During Hospital for their dedication to improving child healthcare.
The inauguration of the pediatric centre marks a pivotal achievement in Sierra Leone’s efforts to bolster human capital development and improve healthcare services for its youngest citizens.
