By Josephine Sesay
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, Austin Demby, played a prominent role at the National Forum on Health Financing (FONAFIS 2026) held in Ouagadougou, where African leaders gathered to address pressing challenges in healthcare funding across the continent.
Representing President Julius Maada Bio, Minister Demby participated in high-level discussions and presented Sierra Leone’s ongoing healthcare reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s health system.
In his opening remarks, Demby described the forum as a crucial platform for African nations to exchange ideas and collaborate on shared health priorities, including universal health coverage, domestic resource mobilisation, and innovative financing strategies. He stressed that such collaboration is essential in addressing the growing pressures facing healthcare systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
“Healthcare systems globally are under unprecedented strain, with African countries bearing a disproportionate burden,” Demby said. He noted that rising populations and increasing healthcare demands make it imperative for countries to adopt sustainable, locally driven solutions rooted in national solidarity, efficiency, and strong stakeholder partnerships.
Highlighting Sierra Leone’s commitment, Demby reaffirmed that improving healthcare access remains central to the government’s development agenda. “The health of our citizens lies at the heart of Sierra Leone’s human capital development and social progress,” he stated, adding that achieving universal access to quality healthcare requires adequate resources, effective financing systems, and coordinated action among all stakeholders.
The forum brought together health ministers, policymakers, and development partners from across Africa, providing a space for experience sharing, candid dialogue, and the development of practical solutions to strengthen health financing systems. Participants explored new approaches to mobilising domestic resources and improving the efficiency and performance of national health systems.
At the close of the event, Minister Demby joined fellow delegates in a courtesy visit to Ibrahim Traoré, underscoring a shared commitment to regional cooperation in advancing resilient and sustainable healthcare systems.
FONAFIS 2026 highlighted the growing importance of collective African action in addressing healthcare financing challenges, with Sierra Leone reaffirming its role in promoting innovative and inclusive solutions for improved health outcomes across the continent.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 1st April 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
