By Thaimu T Kamara
Sierra Leone’s newly appointed Chief Medical Officer, Dr. med Mustapha Sundifu Kabba, has called for stronger teamwork, accountability and coordination within the Ministry of Health as he begins his tenure with a renewed focus on improving healthcare delivery across the country.
Dr. Kabba made the call on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, during his first engagement with Directors, Programme Managers and Unit Heads from across the Ministry of Health at the Ministry’s Conference Hall at Youyi Building in Freetown.
The meeting was chaired by the Director of Hospital and Ambulance Services, Ibrahim Foday-Musa, who congratulated Dr. Kabba on his appointment, describing it as timely and well deserved.
Addressing senior health officials virtually from Germany, Dr. Kabba outlined his vision for a more coordinated, accountable and results-oriented health system.
He said the health sector must remain focused on saving lives, stressing that every life matters and every death should be properly investigated to identify lessons and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The new Chief Medical Officer urged all directorates, programmes and units to align their activities with the government’s 300 Days of Activism, the Triple Zero agenda, the National Hospital Strategy and other national health priorities.
He also stressed the importance of ensuring that health facilities across the country remain functional, safe and capable of delivering quality services to patients.
Dr. Kabba placed particular emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, urging officials to break down institutional barriers and work together towards common health goals.
He cautioned against working in isolation or seeking individual recognition for achievements that result from collective efforts.
According to him, effective communication and collaboration among health managers are essential to translating national policies into measurable improvements in service delivery.
He further called for stronger cooperation between Ministry leadership, directorates, District Medical Officers and Hospital Management Teams.
Dr. Kabba reminded healthcare workers of the significant responsibility entrusted to them by patients and communities who depend on the health system and place their lives and confidence in the hands of medical professionals.
Representatives from several departments and programmes welcomed the new Chief Medical Officer and expressed their readiness to support his leadership.
Those represented included Nursing and Midwifery, Primary Healthcare, Food and Nutrition, Pharmaceuticals, Oral Health, Laboratory and Blood Services, Community Health and other key areas of the health sector.
District Medical Officers and representatives of the country’s 16 Hospital Management Teams also conveyed their support, with particular emphasis on the need for stronger supervision, improved coordination and better service delivery.
Participants highlighted the importance of achieving tangible results under the 300 Days of Activism, particularly in reducing maternal and child mortality.
They also identified the strengthening of nutrition services, pharmaceutical supply chains, laboratory services and community health as critical areas requiring sustained attention.
The engagement provided an opportunity for senior Ministry officials to share their expectations and priorities with the new Chief Medical Officer while reaffirming their commitment to working collectively towards national health objectives.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Kabba thanked the Directors, Programme Managers and Unit Heads for the confidence and support expressed following his appointment.
He pledged to work closely with health managers, healthcare workers and development partners to improve the effectiveness of their work and advance the Ministry’s health agenda.
The Chief Medical Officer maintained that achieving meaningful improvements in healthcare delivery would require collective responsibility and sustained collaboration across all levels of the health system.
He reaffirmed his commitment to working with the Ministry’s leadership and frontline health workers as one team to improve healthcare services and ultimately enhance the lives of people across Sierra Leone.
The meeting marks the beginning of Dr. Kabba’s engagement with key health sector actors as he assumes responsibility for providing technical leadership and supporting the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 26th August 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
