Freetown, 20 October 2026 the Ministry of Health through the Directorate of Hospital and Ambulance Services and Mercy Ships have commenced a three-day Country Strategy Development Workshop aimed at strengthening surgical services and improving access to quality surgical care across Sierra Leone. The workshop, taking place from 20 to 22 October 2026 at New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, brings together representatives from the Ministry of Health, hospitals, training institutions, regulatory bodies and development partners to identify priority areas for collaboration and sustainable improvements in surgical healthcare delivery. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. med. Mustapha Kabba, is represented at the workshop by the Director of Hospital and Ambulance Services, Mr. Ibrahim Foday-Musa. Other Ministry representatives include the Director of Human Resources for Health, Mrs. Bernadette Amara; the National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) Focal Person, Dr. Alfred L. Rogers; Hospital Systems Strengthening Lead, Mr. Musa Bangura and the Infection, Prevention and Control program Manager, Mrs. Nana Fofanah. Their participation highlights the importance of coordinating national efforts to strengthen surgical services, develop the health workforce and improve hospital readiness.
The workshop is aligned with Sierra Leone’s National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) 2026–2030, which provides a national framework for improving access to safe, timely, affordable and quality surgical services. Discussions are focused on ensuring that Mercy Ships’ support complements national priorities, strengthens existing health institutions and contributes to a more resilient and equitable surgical healthcare system. A major area of discussion is the development of the surgical workforce, including training and accreditation in anaesthesia, critical care, perioperative nursing, biomedical engineering, pathology and rehabilitation. Participants are examining the need for stronger faculty development, continuing professional education, clinical mentorship and improved access to training for healthcare workers in district and regional facilities. The discussions also highlight the importance of aligning training with professional standards, staff deployment and career development to ensure that acquired skills translate into improved clinical services.
Hospital representatives have also highlighted challenges affecting surgical service delivery, including shortages of trained personnel, essential equipment and supplies, inadequate infrastructure, unreliable utilities, maintenance constraints and gaps in blood and diagnostic services. Participants emphasized the need for joint facility assessments and practical improvement plans that address these interconnected challenges while providing for staffing, supervision, recurrent costs and equipment maintenance. Experiences shared during the sessions also underscored the value of teamwork, safer surgery practices, mentorship and effective referral communication in improving the quality of care. The workshop provides an important platform for the Ministry of Health and Mercy Ships to strengthen collaboration in support of sustainable surgical services nationwide. Proposed follow-up actions include validating hospital priorities, mapping partner contributions, clarifying training and accreditation pathways, and developing facility improvement packages with defined responsibilities and operational requirements. Through alignment with NSOAP 2026–2030, the Ministry and its partners aim to strengthen surgical capacity, improve hospital readiness and expand access to safe, effective and compassionate care for the people of Sierra Leone.
