US Surgical Team Meets Sierra Leone CMO
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mustapha Kabba recently received a delegation from the United States-based Surgical Health Alliance Reflecting Empathy (SHARE) at the Ministry of Health Conference Hall in Freetown to discuss expanding surgical outreach services in Sierra Leone.
Led by Dr. Ndidi Azikiwe alongside Assistant Surgeon Dr. Nathaniel Williams, the visit followed SHARE's surgical outreach at Magburaka Government Hospital, where the team performed 34 free procedures for patients with limited access to specialist care, including 12 thyroidectomies, nine paediatric hernia repairs, 10 lipoma removals, and three keloid procedures.
Despite these successes, the mission encountered severe operational hurdles, particularly unreliable electricity that disrupted surgeries, affected sterilisation, and led to cancellations. The team also highlighted challenges regarding the cost and availability of diagnostic services—such as ultrasound scans, full blood counts, and thyroid function tests—as well as ongoing access to levothyroxine for postoperative patient care.
In response, Dr. Kabba emphasized the need for stronger coordination between the Ministry, hospital management, local surgical teams, and international partners to refine future planning. Proposed measures include pre-outreach facility assessments, guaranteeing backup power via generators or solar systems, securing essential supplies, improving transportation, and organizing structured patient recruitment alongside realistic budgeting.
The meeting, which was also attended by Director of Hospital and Ambulance Services Mr. Ibrahim Foday-Musa and the Ministry's Donor Coordinator, underscored the importance of embedding skills transfer into future missions to mentor local medical staff.
The Ministry expressed strong willingness to support future interventions, with both parties agreeing that thorough preparation and resource mobilization are vital to sustainable surgical outreach.
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