Health Ministry Engages SHARE Team Following 34 Free Surgeries in Magburaka
Sia Lucy Kannah Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. med. Mustapha Kabba, has met with members of the U.S.-based Surgical Health Alliance Reflecting Empathy (SHARE) team to review its recent surgical outreach at Magburaka Government Hospital and discuss ways to strengthen future missions in Sierra Leone.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Health Conference Hall in Freetown, was attended by the Director of Hospital and Ambulance Services, Ibrahim Foday-Musa, and the Ministry’s Donor Coordinator. The SHARE delegation was led by Dr Ndidi Azikiwe, with Dr Nathaniel Williams serving as assistant surgeon.
During the outreach, the team performed 34 free surgical procedures, comprising 12 thyroidectomies, nine paediatric hernia repairs, 10 lipoma removals and three keloid procedures.
However, the mission encountered operational challenges, including unreliable electricity that disrupted procedures and equipment sterilisation, resulting in the cancellation of some planned operations. The team also highlighted the high cost and limited availability of diagnostic services, as well as difficulties accessing levothyroxine for patients requiring continued treatment.
Dr Kabba acknowledged the challenges and emphasised stronger coordination between the Ministry, hospital management, local surgical teams and international partners. Discussions focused on assessing facilities ahead of missions, improving power supply through generators or solar systems, providing essential supplies and transport, and establishing realistic budgets and patient recruitment plans.
The SHARE team also called for future missions to incorporate skills transfer, mentorship and training for local surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and resident doctors to strengthen the country’s long-term surgical capacity.
The Ministry expressed willingness to engage with the outreach organisers and explore possible support, with participants agreeing that improved planning, resource mobilisation and collaboration are essential to delivering safer and more sustainable surgical services in Sierra Leone.