In the recent weekly press briefing held by the Ministry of Information, Deputy Minister of Health 2, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha, revealed groundbreaking developments aimed at revolutionizing Sierra Leone’s healthcare infrastructure.

Dr. Jalikatu disclosed that significant strides were made at the COP28 summit to address challenges within the health sector. Among the achievements, they successfully secured commitments for solar electrification initiatives to enhance at least 1000 health facilities by 2025.

Furthermore, a robust commitment was obtained to solar-electrify all 1600 health facilities across the country. This strategic move is poised to significantly bolster healthcare accessibility and service delivery.

The Ministry’s overarching objective, as stated by Dr. Jalikatu, aims to minimize the distance between communities and health facilities.

To accomplish this, they have set an ambitious goal to increase the country’s health facilities to 2000 by 2030. This initiative involves constructing additional structures to ensure health centers are more readily accessible to the populace, especially those in remote areas.

The Deputy Minister highlighted another milestone achieved at COP28—a secured funding package designated for solar electrification projects. This funding encompasses 11 tertiary and secondary health facilities, including the renowned Connaught Hospital.

This initiative aligns with the broader objective of ensuring sustainable and reliable power sources for critical healthcare institutions, thereby optimizing their services and functionality.

These substantial advancements underscore the government’s unwavering commitment to fortifying Sierra Leone’s healthcare infrastructure. The initiatives showcased during COP28 reflect a concerted effort to address critical challenges, enhance accessibility, and ultimately improve healthcare delivery across the nation.