By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara

The National Medical Supplies Agency (NMSA) has strengthened healthcare delivery in Tonkolili District with the distribution of seven truckloads of essential medicines and medical supplies under its quarterly nationwide distribution of Free Healthcare commodities.

The consignment, handed over to the Tonkolili District Health Management Team (DHMT), forms part of the Government of Sierra Leone’s continued efforts to ensure the uninterrupted availability of safe, quality, and effective medicines in health facilities across the country.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the NMSA’s Director of Human Resources, Robert Dixon, said the exercise aligns with the Agency’s core mandate to procure, store, and distribute medicines and medical supplies throughout Sierra Leone.

He disclosed that four truckloads of medicines would be delivered to the District Medical Store for onward distribution to Peripheral Health Units (PHUs), while two truckloads would be allocated to Tonkolili Government Hospital and one truckload to Masanga Hospital.

Dixon called on healthcare workers and managers to ensure that the medicines reach their intended beneficiaries, particularly pregnant women, lactating mothers, children under five years of age, persons with disabilities, as well as Ebola and COVID-19 survivors covered under the Free Healthcare Programme.

He stressed that transparency and accountability in the management of government medicines remain critical to improving health outcomes and maintaining public confidence in the healthcare system.

The handover ceremony was witnessed by Hon. Foyoh Tholly, a member of Parliament’s Oversight Committee on Health, who commended the NMSA for its commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery in the district.

Hon. Tholly warned that any individual found diverting, stealing, or misusing government-supplied medicines would face the full force of the law, noting that such practices undermine public health services and deny vulnerable citizens access to life-saving treatment.

Also speaking at the event, Ibrahim Pelus Kamara, District Coordinator of Health Alert, pledged the support of civil society organisations in monitoring the distribution process to ensure transparency and accountability at every stage.

Receiving the consignment on behalf of the district, the Hospital Superintendent of Tonkolili Government Hospital, Dr. Mohamed Allieu Shour, expressed appreciation to the Government of Sierra Leone and the National Medical Supplies Agency for the timely intervention.

He described the delivery as a significant boost to healthcare services in the district, noting that the medicines would enhance the capacity of health facilities to provide quality treatment to patients.

Dr. Shour assured stakeholders that the supplies would be carefully managed and utilised for their intended purpose, emphasizing that proper stewardship of the medicines would contribute to improved healthcare outcomes.

The latest distribution is part of the NMSA’s ongoing nationwide effort to strengthen Sierra Leone’s health system by ensuring that public health facilities remain adequately stocked with essential medicines and medical supplies, thereby supporting the Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare for all citizens.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 5th August 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)