Mustapha Kabba Charts a Bold Course for Sierra Leone’s Healthcare Future
By Mariama Benovia Davies
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mustapha Kabba has called for sustained collective action and stronger community participation to consolidate Sierra Leone’s progress towards achieving the Triple Zero targets. He made the call during a Special Townhall on the 300 Days of Activism for Triple Zero, held at the Miatta Civic Centre in Freetown under the theme, “Achieving Triple Zero Together – Progress, Challenges and Next Steps.” The event was hosted by the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, and held by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education.
Dr. Kabba reflected on the progress recorded by Sierra Leone, highlighting the dedication of healthcare professionals, political leadership and technical teams whose efforts continue to advance the country’s health agenda. He referenced Sierra Leone’s recent engagement at the United Nations General Assembly, where the country presented its achievements and ongoing efforts to an international audience. According to Dr. Kabba, the positive reception demonstrated the growing recognition of the country’s efforts and provided further motivation to sustain the progress already achieved.
Looking ahead, he said the next phase must focus on maintaining these gains while addressing the challenges that remain within the health system. He explained that achieving Triple Zero requires more than short-term interventions, calling for sustainable approaches capable of addressing existing bottlenecks and strengthening the delivery of healthcare services. He noted that while important interventions are already underway, continued collaboration among government, healthcare workers, communities and other stakeholders remains essential to achieving lasting results.
A major area highlighted by the Chief Medical Officer was maternal healthcare and the need to ensure that women have timely access to appropriate health services. He noted that although many women are receiving care, some continue to encounter barriers when accessing clinics and other health facilities. He stressed the importance of early antenatal care, proper monitoring and timely identification of complications, together with effective referral systems that can connect patients to facilities with the necessary medical personnel, equipment and expertise.
Dr. Kabba further emphasised the critical role of communities in improving health outcomes. He explained that healthcare institutions alone cannot address every challenge and called for communities to become stronger partners in promoting early healthcare-seeking behaviour and encouraging women to access antenatal services. He also highlighted conditions such as sickle cell disease, noting that women living with such conditions may require specialised attention during pregnancy and childbirth. Early identification and appropriate management, he said, can help healthcare professionals respond more effectively to potential complications.
The Chief Medical Officer also spoke about the importance of compassionate, respectful and patient -centred care within healthcare facilities. He noted that efforts are being made to strengthen supervision, monitoring and training so that healthcare workers can continue improving the quality of services provided to patients. He maintained that every woman’s experience within the healthcare system, particularly during childbirth, should be safe, dignified and positive, while acknowledging the importance of continued efforts to close existing gaps.
As Sierra Leone moves forward, Dr. Kabba identified the transition from campaign based interventions to sustainable health system strengthening as a key priority. He explained that the 300 Days of Activism should be viewed as more than a temporary campaign, but as an opportunity to strengthen existing systems and establish approaches that can deliver results over the long term. He called for the lessons and gains from the initiative to be integrated into the relevant directorates and programmes within the Ministry of Health and other key institutions.
Dr. Kabba’s message at the Special Townhall reinforced the importance of collective responsibility in achieving the Triple Zero vision. While recognising the progress already made, he called for continued commitment, stronger community engagement, quality healthcare delivery and sustainable systems capable of protecting mothers and children. His forward-looking message reflected the broader objective of the 300 Days of Activism: to build on Sierra Leone’s achievements, address remaining challenges and create lasting improvements that can contribute to a healthier future for all Sierra Leoneans.
