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The Ministry of Health, through the Directorate of Hospital and Ambulance Services (DHAS), on Thursday, September 3, 2026, launched the Medical Equipment Technicians Mentorship Programme to strengthen the maintenance and management of medical equipment in Sierra Leone.
The programme marks the first major mentorship engagement since the establishment of the Biomedical Unit within DHAS in March 2025, which enhanced the Directorate’s role in equipment installation, calibration, preventive maintenance and management to improve quality of care and patient safety.
Biomedical Engineering Consultant at DHAS, Dr Dinsie Williams, said medical equipment technicians play a critical role throughout the equipment lifecycle, from planning and procurement to installation, maintenance, replacement and disposal. She called for proper equipment selection, effective management of donations, national equipment inventories, standardised procurement and reliable technical support.
Deputy Vice Chancellor of COMAHS, Prof. Dr James Russell, said the mentorship programme would build on the training of the first cohort of 60 biomedical technicians by combining theoretical knowledge with supervised workplace practice, knowledge transfer and guidance from experienced engineers and specialists.
Officially launching the programme on behalf of the Minister of Health, Chief Medical Officer Dr. med Mustapha Sundifu Kabba stressed that equipment procurement must be accompanied by proper maintenance. He also highlighted the need for preventive maintenance, national equipment inventories, technical input in procurement and budgeting, continuous professional development, gender inclusion and stronger collaboration with universities.
The programme is expected to reduce equipment downtime, strengthen preventive and corrective maintenance, and increase the availability of functional medical equipment across health facilities.
The Ministry, through DHAS and in collaboration with universities and partners, reaffirmed its commitment to developing a sustainable biomedical engineering system capable of meeting the growing technological needs of Sierra Leone’s health sector.
