Ministry of Health, Mercy Ships Advance Plans to Strengthen Surgical Services
The Ministry of Health and Mercy Ships have continued efforts to strengthen surgical healthcare services in Sierra Leone during the second day of a country strategy development workshop held in Freetown on 21 October 2026.
The workshop, taking place at New Brookfields Hotel from 20 to 22 October, brings together stakeholders to identify priorities and areas of collaboration aimed at improving access to quality surgical care across the country.
Facilitated through the Ministry’s Directorate of Hospital and Ambulance Services (DHAS), the discussions focused on implementing the National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) for 2026–2030.
Participants reviewed existing health sector interventions, coordination arrangements and gaps requiring support from the Ministry of Health, hospitals and development partners.
Key areas discussed included hospital infrastructure, medical equipment, essential supplies, clinical quality assurance and improvements to surgical data collection and reporting through national health information systems.
The workshop also addressed workforce development, including professional training, accreditation and workforce planning, as well as hospital financing and accountability.
Participants further explored ways to integrate surgical services provided by Mercy Ships with long-term capacity development in Sierra Leone. Discussions highlighted training, mentorship, biomedical support and collaboration with national health institutions as key areas for improving the sustainability of surgical services.
Proposed follow-up actions include improving coordination of the NSOAP, assessing hospital needs, strengthening surgical reporting, developing workforce plans and identifying opportunities for technical collaboration.
The engagement is intended to align partner support with national health priorities and advance the implementation of the NSOAP 2026–2030, with the goal of improving access to safe, high-quality surgical services across Sierra Leone.
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