In a significant boost to Sierra Leone’s healthcare system, ChildFund Sierra Leone has donated medical supplies worth an estimated $23.8 million to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, with a specific focus on the treatment and management of diabetes.
The donation, which includes high-grade medications and vital health equipment, was formally handed over during a ceremony in Freetown.
According to the Ministry, the contribution is a major step forward in addressing the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly diabetes, which continues to impact the health of many Sierra Leoneans.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health described ChildFund as a longstanding and valued partner in Sierra Leone’s health sector.
“ChildFund has been a household name in this ministry since 1985,” he noted, highlighting the organization’s past contributions to early childhood care, maternal health, and youth development. He added, “To see another donation from ChildFund is not a surprise, as they have consistently supported us with such invaluable gestures. We are deeply grateful.”
Victor Kamara, Country Director of ChildFund Sierra Leone, emphasized the organization’s enduring collaboration with the Ministry.
“We have always listened to the needs of the Ministry and tried to respond accordingly. Just six or seven months ago, we donated $25 million worth of medical supplies. Today, we are handing over another $23.8 million in medical materials, particularly for the treatment of diabetes,” Kamara said.
He praised the government for facilitating a conducive environment that allowed the importation of the supplies duty-free. “This is how partnerships should work complementing government efforts,” he said, while urging that the donated items be used appropriately and reach the people who need them most. Kamara reaffirmed ChildFund’s commitment to continue supporting the Ministry’s initiatives.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the Ministry, Dr. Kabba expressed profound appreciation for the timely intervention. “This is a great way to start the week waking up on a Monday morning to such a generous gift. ChildFund has always been a dependable partner in helping us address serious health challenges,” he said.
Dr. Kabba stressed that one of the Ministry’s major challenges is the availability of essential drugs. “Some of these medicines are not even available in local pharmacies or hospitals. They are critical, lifesaving medications, including last-line antibiotics and drugs needed by women during childbirth,” he explained.
He highlighted that the supplies will be distributed free of charge to public health facilities, thereby improving access to essential care for people living with diabetes and reducing the likelihood of life-threatening complications.
The event concluded with the symbolic handover of the medical supplies from ChildFund to the Ministry, marking yet another milestone in the longstanding partnership between the two institutions
