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Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh has described Masanga Hospital as a symbol of radical inclusion and a growing centre of medical excellence, as the Government of Sierra Leone prepares to assume full responsibility for the institution following the conclusion of a 20-year partnership agreement with its development partners.
In a statement shared after a high-level visit to the hospital, Dr. Sengeh said Masanga holds deep personal significance for him and his family, noting that one of his grandfathers suffered from leprosy and received care at the facility, which has historically served as a treatment centre for leprosy patients.
“Masanga Hospital is special to me for many reasons, but most importantly, it symbolizes radical inclusion,” the Chief Minister wrote, expressing gratitude for the institution’s long-standing service to vulnerable communities.
Dr. Sengeh also highlighted the hospital’s role in advancing medical innovation, linking it to his academic work. He noted that his PhD research focused on 3D printing of prosthetic devices, a technology that Masanga Hospital has successfully implemented for patients while also contributing to further research in the field.
The visit, which included the Deputy Minister of Finance, Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, the Member of Parliament for the area, the Chief Medical Officer, and other senior officials, was aimed at assessing ongoing developments at the hospital as government transitions into full stewardship of the facility. Founded in 1954, Masanga Hospital has, over the past two decades, treated more than 200,000 patients, while undergoing significant infrastructural and institutional upgrades.
According to the Chief Minister, the period of partnership has seen the construction of new facilities, the rehabilitation of previously dilapidated structures, and the establishment of a new Allied Health College in Tonkolili, which will train health professionals locally. He further noted that research standards at the hospital have improved considerably, with state-of-the-art laboratories now in place.
Dr. Sengeh disclosed that the Ministry of Health has deployed several dozen staff to Masanga Hospital, all now on the government payroll, and that specialised training programmes are being expanded. He described the hospital as an emerging centre of excellence for the treatment of wounds, trauma, and hemorrhagic viral diseases, adding that government investment in the facility continues to increase.
“Things at Masanga are better today than they were six years ago,” Dr. Sengeh stated, describing the progress as a clear demonstration of the government’s development agenda under the theme #WeAreDelivering.
During engagements with community members, residents raised concerns and requests for improved road infrastructure, additional postal pin codes, access to clean water, and electricity within the town. Responding to these concerns, the Chief Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing them, assuring residents that collective efforts would yield results.
“On these and more, together #WeWillDeliver,” he said.
