Health Ministry Establishes Steering Committee to Drive Surgical Care Plan Through 2030
Sia Lucy Kannah Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health, through the Directorate of Hospital and Ambulance Services (DHAS), has convened the inaugural Steering Committee meeting to oversee the implementation of the National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) 2026–2030.
The meeting was held at the Ministry of Health Conference Room on the fourth floor of the Youyi Building in Freetown, bringing together senior ministry officials, teaching hospital directors, clinical specialists, heads of training institutions and international development partners.
The newly established Steering Committee will serve as a national coordination and oversight mechanism to strengthen collaboration among institutions and guide the implementation of the five-year strategic plan. The NSOAP 2026–2030 aims to ensure that people across Sierra Leone have access to safe, timely, equitable and affordable surgical, obstetric and anaesthetic care.
During the meeting, members unanimously agreed that Chief Medical Officer Dr. med Mustapha S. Kabba would serve as Chair of the Steering Committee, with the Senior Permanent Secretary as Co-Chair. The committee is expected to meet bimonthly, with its next working session scheduled for January 2027.
Delegates also reviewed progress in specialist medical training programmes, diagnostic imaging, hospital infrastructure development and blood transfusion services.
Speaking at the meeting, Kabba emphasised that the implementation of the NSOAP would be guided by reliable data, accountability and effective coordination among strategic partners.
The establishment of the Steering Committee marks a step towards strengthening Sierra Leone’s surgical healthcare system, improving access to essential surgical services and addressing maternal health challenges as the country works towards the plan’s 2030 targets.