Sierra Leone has launched a sweeping national plan to improve access to surgical care, unveiling a series of ambitious targets aimed at strengthening its health system and reducing preventable deaths.
The National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) was formally introduced in Freetown on Oct. 31 by Health Minister Austin Demby. The strategy was later presented to regional health leaders at the 3rd Pan-African Surgical Healthcare Forum (PASHeF) in Addis Ababa, where senior health official Dr. Mustapha S. Kabba outlined the country’s commitments.
Kabba, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Services and lead author of the plan, said the initiative seeks to close major gaps in surgical access and workforce capacity.
Under the plan, Sierra Leone aims to increase its specialist surgical workforce from 1.6 to 5 per 100,000 people and expand the overall surgical workforce density from roughly 4.5 to 10 per 100,000. The government also plans to double the national surgical volume to 1,000 procedures per 100,000 population.
Kabba said the country will introduce new financing measures to reduce out-of-pocket costs, which remain a major barrier to care.
“This plan is more than a document; it is a covenant with the people of Sierra Leone,” Kabba told delegates. “We are strengthening surgical governance to address our high unmet surgical need and to build a system that is resilient, sustainable, accountable, and responsive.”
Sierra Leone faces persistent challenges, including limited funding, infrastructure constraints, and a shortage of trained personnel. Kabba said political commitment at the highest levels and support from international partners would be critical to achieving the plan’s targets.
He cited cooperation with Mercy Ships, CapaCare, Smile Train, UN agencies, the World Health Organization, and regional bodies such as the West African College of Surgeons. At the forum, Kabba formally handed the NSOAP document to PASHeF Chairman Professor Abeba, signalling Sierra Leone’s inclusion among African states that have adopted national surgical plans.
Health officials say the initiative represents a significant step toward delivering safe, affordable, and timely surgical care to all Sierra Leoneans — a long-standing gap in the country’s health system.
By James Karim
