Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. A consignment of essential medical supplies has been donated to the Ministry of Health by the Healy Foundation during a brief but meaningful ceremony held on Tuesday at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Wilkinson Road, Freetown.
The event began with prayers and introductions, setting a tone of humility, gratitude, and shared purpose.
The donation represents a major boost to Sierra Leone’s healthcare system and highlights the importance of strategic partnerships in strengthening national preparedness and response capacities.
Speaking on behalf of Professor Foday Sahr, Executive Director of the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), Alhaji Dr. Mohamed Alex Vandi, Deputy Executive Director of NPHA, expressed deep appreciation to the Healy Foundation for the timely support. He noted that prior discussions had paved the way for the donation, adding that both the Ministry of Health and NPHA were grateful for the Foundation’s continued commitment to public health.
Dr. Vandi commended the Foundation for providing medications with a long shelf life, describing them as valuable assets in future outbreak responses. “We cannot prevent all outbreaks,” he said, “but it is how we as a Public Health Institution respond to them that defines our strength. With these medications at our disposal, we will make good use of them when needed.”
He further described all partners present as reliable and trustworthy, adding with a smile, “Diseases and outbreaks don’t have boundaries.” Dr. Vandi reaffirmed that preparedness and response remain central to NPHA’s mandate, extending gratitude on behalf of both the Ministry of Health and the Agency.
Josephine Garmen, Executive Director of the Healy Foundation, reaffirmed the Foundation’s mission to promote health equity and ensure access to lifesaving medical resources. “This donation reflects our belief that no community should be left behind in the pursuit of health and dignity,” she said.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Moses Batema, Director of Pharmaceutical Services and Chief Pharmacist of Sierra Leone, emphasized the critical role of partnerships in sustaining healthcare delivery. He assured that the supplies would be distributed strategically and transparently to ensure maximum impact across health facilities. “This support strengthens our systems and helps us respond more effectively when the need arises,” he noted.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Agnes Bangura commended the National Public Health Agency for its robust response to the recent mpox outbreak. She reported that Sierra Leone has recorded zero new cases for more than two weeks, with a case fatality rate between 1.2% and 1.3%. Most fatalities, she explained, occurred among patients with co-morbidities or advanced HIV infections, citing gaps in antiretroviral therapy uptake and complications from extensive genital wounds.
Dr. Bangura further highlighted that patients with post-infection scarring are required to attend a weekly clinic at Connaught Hospital, managed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which provides reconstructive surgery and follow-up care.
The ceremony concluded with a renewed commitment from both the Ministry of Health and the Healy Foundation to deepen collaboration in advancing healthcare access, equity, and resilience. As Sierra Leone continues to strengthen its public health systems, the donation stands as both material support and a symbol of shared responsibility and hope.
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