By Donstance Koroma
Delivering the keynote address at a multi-stakeholder meeting and mini symposium organized by ReBUILD for resilience at the palace resort in Tokeh Village, Western rural district, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, praised the long-standing impact of the ReBUILD project on Sierra Leone’s health and education sectors.
It is a true honor to reflect on a journey that began over a decade ago with the ReBUILD project, Dr. Wurie said, this experience has shaped me both personally and professionally and continues to influence how I serve as minister of technical and higher education.
Dr. Wurie revealed that when she first joined ReBUILD, she had no prior knowledge of qualitative research, But ReBUILD didn’t just carry out research it invested in the people conducting it, it nurtured my curiosity, built my capacity, and helped me understand how qualitative research can unravel the complexities of health systems, especially in a country like Sierra Leone, where system resilience is a matter of survival.
She highlighted how the project enabled her to engage communities, listen to stories of both suffering and resilience, and derive insights that could inform policy. I moved from being an inexperienced researcher to leading multiple initiatives as a Principal Investigator, capacity building was not just an outcome it was a driving force for sustainable change.
Her experience with ReBUILD inspired her to advocate for institutional strengthening, particularly at the Sierra Leone Medical School, ensuring it contributed meaningfully to global health systems research, in 2022, Dr. Wurie’s journey continued when she became a Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Fellow, an experience that enhanced her leadership skills and prepared her for her current ministerial role.
As minister, I apply systems thinking something I developed through ReBUILD to address challenges in the education sector, she said, it is not enough to build infrastructure, we must build human capacity. It is not enough to write policies, they must be informed by evidence and shaped by the people they affect.
She further announced the development of a strategic plan for reforming the technical and higher education sector, grounded in the principles of equity, inclusivity, and sustainability, ReBUILD was more than a project it was a family a movement, a vision for a better future.
Dr. Sophie Witter, Co-Research Director of ReBUILD for Resilience, underscored the growing global importance of building resilient health systems amidst increasing shocks and crises, the need for research partnerships to provide evidence on resilience capacities at both national and local levels is more critical than ever, she said, we are grateful to collaborate with our learning site partners in Sierra Leone.
Prof. Fouad Fouad, country principal Investigator for the ReBUILD Lebanon project and Global Health professor at both the liverpool school of tropical medicine and the University of Beirut, praised the consortium’s achievements, we’ve collected vital data, involved communities in decision-making, and built resilient health systems in fragile contexts, the remaining phase will focus on knowledge-sharing through publications.
Ayesha Idriss, principal Investigator for ReBUILD Sierra Leone, recalled the early challenges of the project in Moyamba and Kailahun districts, initially, community ownership was lacking, but over time, local leaders and stakeholders began to take the lead, which is crucial for sustainability.
Stakeholder groups have since been formed to coordinate meetings and radio discussions on health issues, however, maintaining these groups remains a challenge, with current support limited to transport reimbursements and radio airtime.
To sustain this progress, we are now reaching out to mining companies and corporate actors to support these groups as part of their corporate social responsibility, Idriss noted.
ReBUILD’s engagement in Sierra Leone dates back to 2011. In 2023, the government hosted a Universal Health and Preparedness Review (UHPR) a pioneering initiative focused on building high-level capacity for health emergency preparedness based on Universal health coverage and mutual accountability. Sierra Leone was the first country in West Africa and the fifth globally to conduct this peer-led review.
During the launch of the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) on December 14, 2023, President Julius Maada Bio reaffirmed his government’s commitment to public health, for too long, our people have faced the burden of disease and inadequate healthcare, he said, the NPHA is a bold declaration of our intent to build a resilient system capable of responding to future threats.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health organization, commended Sierra Leone in a video address, the NPHA will strengthen national health and provide science-based leadership, he said, adding that WHO is proud to support the country’s efforts through technical assistance, equipment, and capacity building.
The ReBUILD consortium composed of experts from Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nepal, and the United Kingdom has conducted extensive research in areas such as health financing, community health work, post-conflict system recovery gender equity and health workforce development.
During the recent Moyamba site visit, participants explored how local leaders engage with health system shocks and examined collaborative governance, leadership, and inclusive decision-making as key elements of resilience.
The mini-symposium also featured workshops on research uptake, communication, safeguarding, gender reflection, and strategic product development, promoting cross-learning among policymakers, researchers, and community stakeholders.
With over a decade of work in fragile contexts, ReBUILD for Resilience remains a cornerstone in shaping a future where health and education systems are not only functional but sustainable and people-centered.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday,23th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
