By: Mohamed Sahr
In a significant move to prioritise the strategic development of the healthcare system in government hospitals, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with partners, held a consultative meeting aimed at enhancing the national hospital strategy for service delivery transformation on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sierra Palm Hotel in Freetown.
The meeting was described as the first of its kind not only in the West African region but also across the world, marking a major milestone in Sierra Leone’s healthcare landscape.
Dr. Mustapha Kabba, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Services, emphasised the broader benefits of having a documented and evidence-based hospital strategy. He acknowledged that while the country faces significant challenges, especially in the health sector, the strategy would serve as a strong foundation for establishing an efficient healthcare system with improved standards. “With this strategy, we hope to develop and overcome these challenges as well provide a clear pathway to adopting quality service delivery,” Dr. Kabba said.
He further noted that after successful engagements with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva, Sierra Leone received commendation for its unwavering commitment to ensuring hospitals are “fit for purpose” through an alignment with a patient-centred approach.
Dr. Kabba reaffirmed the Ministry of Health’s commitment to supporting this initiative by providing both financial and technical resources to ensure the country develops hospitals that meet necessary standards.
Abdul Mansaray, WHO representative, expressed gratitude for the bold steps taken by the Ministry of Health to ensure that hospitals implement best practices through the drafted National Hospital Strategy. He stressed the importance of the document and urged health professionals to take responsibility. “We want to see hospitals that are fit for purpose and provide quality services,” Mansaray stated.
James Bunn, representative of the FCDO and British High Commission, encouraged the private sector to get involved in adopting this new approach to ensure hospitals meet the required standards. He mentioned that the FCDO focuses on primary healthcare and supports the live stages approach, along with the special baby care unit.
He also highlighted the lack of resources as one of the major challenges to sustainable healthcare delivery across primary, secondary, and tertiary health systems. Mr. Bunn pointed out that the FCDO has made significant infrastructural investments and supported training for midwives and nurses in major health centres in Freetown and the provinces. He urged the government to take responsibility for executing the budget and ensuring accountability.
Papy Kilongo Mulailwa, Medical Director of Partners in Health, confirmed that their focus is on improving the quality of care, particularly in underserved communities. He emphasised their continued collaboration with hospitals in the provinces.
In her presentation, Dr. Mariama Mustapha, Public Health Consultant, emphasised the importance of having a strategy that provides quality clinical services for Sierra Leoneans. She noted that the strategy is flexible and allows hospitals to use it as a blueprint for developing their own strategies, while also adapting it to their specific priorities for effective implementation.
Dr. Mustapha outlined that the strategy’s objectives include strengthening leadership, governance, and coordination mechanisms to promote effective management and multi-sectorial collaboration at all levels to enhance service delivery. “We need to improve coordination frameworks and accountability to enhance service delivery,” Dr. Mustapha concluded.
