FREETOWN—The United States Embassy in Freetown has officially transferred a cutting-edge National Parasitic Diseases Laboratory and Training Center to Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health, marking a major boost to the country’s fight against malaria and other parasitic illnesses.
The facility, financed through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) with support from U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is designed to serve as a national hub for advanced disease diagnosis and professional training.
Health officials say it will strengthen Sierra Leone’s capacity to detect, monitor, and manage parasitic infections while improving overall community health outcomes.
During the handover ceremony, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Jared Yancey highlighted the broader significance of the project.
“This laboratory and training center is not just an investment in Sierra Leone’s future,” he said. “It is an investment by the American people in global health security.”
Ministry of Health representatives welcomed the new center as a key component of Sierra Leone’s ongoing malaria control strategy, describing it as a critical step toward safeguarding public health nationwide.
