By Mohamed J Kargbo
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has officially turned the sod for the construction of ultramodern postgraduate college for Administration and Pedagogy.
The event, which took place on Thursday, 27th March 2025, at Lakka Government Hospital, marks a pivotal moment in the country’s healthcare development.
Vice President Dr. Juldeh Jalloh announced that the Government of Sierra Leone had recently increased the budget allocation for the health sector from 6% to 11%, emphasizing that the investment is already yielding dividends across the country.
VP Juldeh Jalloh highlighted that the construction of the postgraduate college is a major step towards training more healthcare specialists, thus expanding opportunities within the health delivery chain. “This means Sierra Leone will now have a greater capacity to train specialists in various health fields,” he stated. He also noted the government’s efforts to recruit thousands of healthcare workers, contributing to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality rates.
The Vice President expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Health and the Council of Postgraduate College Education for their collaboration and commitment to improving the quality of specialized healthcare delivery.
He affirmed that the country is on the right path toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), stressing that UHC requires investment in infrastructure, commitment, and human resources.
VP Juldeh Jalloh further emphasized that the new facility would play a crucial role in boosting the training of healthcare specialists, which is essential for achieving UHC.
Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health, assured that the Ministry would continue to support President Bio’s vision of high-quality healthcare and UHC. He explained that advancing primary healthcare is crucial to strengthening both secondary and tertiary health systems in Sierra Leone. “To improve the quality of healthcare services, enhancing human capacity is key,” Dr. Demby remarked.
Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulia Wurie, highlighted that the construction of the facility reflects the shared vision of the Government of Sierra Leone, healthcare practitioners, educators, and development partners. She added that the facility would serve as a foundation for improving healthcare delivery in line with global standards.
Dr. Wurie noted that the facility would become a hub for knowledge, research, and practice, ultimately helping to cultivate the next generation of medical leaders.
Dr. Sartie Kenneh, Chief Medical Officer, reinforced the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing quality and affordable healthcare in Sierra Leone. He emphasized the importance of infrastructure and human resources in achieving these goals.
Dr. Kenneh also pointed out that the construction of the postgraduate colleges would address challenges such as brain drain in the healthcare sector.
Dr. Mustapha Kabba, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Clinical and Project Coordinator, explained that the project is designed to revolutionize medical education, workforce development, and health outcomes in the country.
He added that the facility would empower the next generation of medical professionals to contribute to prominent health interventions.
