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Five Sierra Leonean medical doctors and one nurse have returned home after successfully completing advanced training in hematology in Italy, a development expected to strengthen the country’s blood transfusion system and improve maternal healthcare services.
The six health professionals received full scholarships in February through a partnership between the Ministry of Health and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) under a programme aimed at building local capacity in blood transfusion and laboratory medicine.
The training, titled “Professional and Academic Training for the Consolidation of the Blood Transfusion System in Sierra Leone,” equipped the participants with advanced knowledge and practical skills in the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders, while enhancing their expertise in blood safety and clinical laboratory services.
According to the Ministry of Health, the initiative seeks to develop a sustainable pool of local specialists capable of strengthening Sierra Leone’s blood transfusion system and improving the management of complex blood-related conditions.
The ministry noted that the return of the specialists comes at a crucial time, as the country continues efforts to reduce maternal deaths caused by postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), one of the leading causes of maternal mortality.
It added that the newly acquired expertise will improve the collection, testing, storage, and distribution of blood across regional blood banks, ensuring that patients particularly mothers experiencing childbirth complications have timely access to safe blood for life-saving transfusions.
The Ministry of Health expressed confidence that the deployment of the newly trained professionals will enhance the quality of blood transfusion services, strengthen clinical laboratory systems, and contribute to improved healthcare delivery across Sierra Leone.
