The Sierra Leone-China Nursing Training Centre has successfully concluded a two-month nursing training programme aimed at strengthening clinical nursing skills and improving healthcare delivery in Sierra Leone.
The closing ceremony was held on 28 August 2026 at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, bringing together 40 nursing professionals from five hospitals across Sierra Leone.
The training focused on common clinical challenges in Sierra Leone, with particular attention to the diagnosis, treatment and management of prevalent diseases.
During the closing session, Nurse-in-Charge Wei Tao from Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital delivered a lecture on the construction and practice of a safety-culture system in anaesthesia-recovery nursing. She shared standardized workflows, safety-management approaches and practical clinical experiences, introducing Chinese expertise and best practices to help improve peri-operative nursing safety in Sierra Leone.
Associate Professor Sheng Jie from Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, also delivered a lecture on nursing care for common cardiovascular diseases. She discussed patient observation, risk prevention, health management and complication prevention in the management of hypertension, diabetes and other chronic conditions.
The training received strong participation and positive feedback from Sierra Leonean nursing professionals. Local Head Nurse Fonti Kargbo delivered a presentation on nursing assessment, while Massah, Director of Nursing at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, shared guidance on standardized nursing documentation.
Trainee representatives, including Abubakarr from the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital and Josephine from Rokupa Government Hospital, expressed appreciation for the programme. They described the training as practical, informative and valuable, while also expressing interest in future study visits to China.
At the conclusion of the programme, Associate Professor Tan Yan of Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital, who also serves as Director of the Sierra Leone-China Nursing Training Centre, presented completion certificates endorsed by Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health to all participants.
Despite operational challenges, including frequent power and water interruptions at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, the Centre maintained a dual-track teaching approach. This combined online lectures delivered by Chinese medical experts with practical, on-site training conducted by members of the Chinese medical-aid team.
The programme covered eight core areas, including fundamental nursing, critical-care nursing, infectious-disease nursing, chronic-disease management and appropriate traditional Chinese medicine techniques.
The initiative is designed to develop a skilled, professional and sustainable local nursing workforce capable of remaining in Sierra Leone and contributing to the country’s healthcare system.
The training programme forms part of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges and represents a practical example of health-sector cooperation between Sierra Leone and China. It also contributes to strengthening professional ties and people-to-people friendship between the two countries.
Since its establishment, the Sierra Leone-China Nursing Training Centre has received recognition from Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health, the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone and the Hunan Provincial Health Commission.
Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health has particularly commended the Centre for its contribution to improving the standard of nursing services in the country.
Beyond strengthening clinical nursing capacity and specialized care, the programme is helping to deepen practical health cooperation and further consolidate the longstanding friendship between Sierra Leone and China.