Connaught Hospital Mortuary Closed for Renovation Due to Outdated Equipment

The Connaught Hospital Mortuary in Freetown will undergo a temporary closure for six weeks starting Monday, July 21st, 2025, to facilitate comprehensive renovations and structural upgrades.

This essential decision, made in collaboration between Connaught Hospital Management and the Ministry of Health, forms part of a national initiative to modernize mortuary services and enhance post-mortem care standards throughout Sierra Leone.

Officials have disclosed that the mortuary's current cold storage equipment, which is nearly 50 years old, has become unreliable, making continued operations unsustainable despite regular maintenance.

To minimize the impact of this closure, alternative mortuary services have been arranged with the 34 Military Hospital, Jui (Chinese) Hospital, and the Police Hospital. Connaught Hospital will continue to manage in-hospital deaths with a maximum two-day holding period.

Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health, addressed the situation, noting that they are at a pivotal moment. He announced the acquisition of 10 new mortuary refrigerators to be installed in key hospitals nationwide, including Connaught, and confirmed that resources have been mobilized to rehabilitate the Connaught mortuary, with work commencing immediately.

The hospital management has assured the public of its dedication to providing respectful and dignified care for the deceased and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused by the temporary closure.