By sulaiman.sesay@awokonewspapersl.com
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – Sierra Leone has taken a bold step toward strengthening its healthcare system with the groundbreaking of the country’s first Postgraduate Colleges for Health Administration and Pedagogy. The landmark event, held on March 27, 2025, at Lakka Government Hospital, was marked by excitement and optimism, as government officials, medical professionals, and stakeholders gathered to witness a major advancement in medical education and healthcare development.
This initiative is a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s healthcare reform agenda, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.
Leading the sod-turning ceremony were Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and Minister of Health Austin Demby, alongside other high-profile dignitaries.
Delivering the keynote address, Vice President Jalloh hailed the project as a transformational investment in the country’s medical sector.
“This is a testament to our unwavering commitment to strengthening medical training, research, and innovation,” he stated. “For too long, our specialists have had to seek training abroad. With this facility, we are reversing that trend and ensuring that Sierra Leone can produce its own highly skilled medical professionals.”
He reflected on the President Bio-led government’s 2018 ‘People’s Manifesto’, which prioritizes human capital development across healthcare, governance, and education. He cited the establishment of a midwifery school in Kenema, the Basic Medical Science Faculty at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, and the Njala Medical School as key achievements. The new postgraduate colleges, he affirmed, will consolidate these gains and position Sierra Leone as a hub for advanced medical training and research.
The state-of-the-art facility will feature advanced laboratories, lecture halls, and research centers, creating an environment for intellectual and scientific excellence.
“This institution will be the backbone of our healthcare system,” VP Jalloh noted. “It will provide postgraduate training opportunities, strengthen our medical workforce, and ultimately improve healthcare delivery nationwide.”
Emphasizing the link between sustainable healthcare and continuous medical education, the Vice President expressed gratitude to funding partners and the Ministry of Health for their efforts in making the project a reality.
In his address, Minister of Health Austin Demby described the establishment of the Postgraduate College of Health Specialties as a direct presidential directive aimed at strengthening the healthcare workforce.
“We have expanded access to healthcare, with 85% of the population now living within 5km of a health facility. However, access alone is not enough—we must ensure quality healthcare through investments in supply chains, infrastructure, and skilled personnel,” he stressed.
Demby emphasized that while primary healthcare remains a priority, enhancing secondary and tertiary healthcare systems is critical to achieving comprehensive health security. He also highlighted the inter-ministerial collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, which aims to build a strong medical training framework in the country.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Ramatulai Wurie, emphasized the importance of postgraduate medical education in building a resilient healthcare system.
“Specialist training is the backbone of a strong health sector,” she stated. “It empowers countries to develop medical expertise, adapt to evolving health challenges, and meet international healthcare standards.”
She reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to ongoing collaboration with the health sector to train and retain skilled medical professionals in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Sahr Moses Gevao, Chairman of the Sierra Leone Council for Postgraduate College of Health Specialties, described the groundbreaking as a historic moment and a realization of a long-held dream. He praised President Bio’s dedication to enhancing postgraduate medical training and improving healthcare services for all citizens.
Echoing similar sentiments, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sartie Kenneh outlined the urgent need for more medical specialists in the country.
“Sierra Leone currently has less than 1,000 medical doctors, yet we need 5,000, of which 30% should be specialists,” he revealed. “We also require 4,000 midwives, but we have fewer than 2,000.”
Dr. Kenneh called for a structured roadmap to ensure that every hospital in Sierra Leone is staffed with specialized medical professionals, emphasizing that investments in postgraduate training will be key to achieving this goal.
As the ceremony concluded, government officials, medical experts, and stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to seeing the project through. The groundbreaking of these postgraduate colleges marks the dawn of a new era in Sierra Leone’s healthcare sector—one that will equip future generations of doctors, specialists, and healthcare administrators with the skills needed to transform medical services across the country.
With this bold step, Sierra Leone is moving towards a future where high-quality healthcare is not just accessible, but also driven by locally trained medical professionals equipped to tackle the nation’s healthcare challenges head-on. SKS/28/3/2025
