By Essa Juana Mbawah
Freetown, January 2026 – Residents of Bo City and surrounding communities benefitted from free specialized medical services as Health Care Sierra Leone USA (HCSL-USA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, carried out a three-day health outreach at the Bo Government Hospital.
The medical mission, held from January 21 to 23, 2026, brought together both local and international health professionals with the goal of improving access to quality healthcare, particularly for vulnerable populations.
According to Dr. Michael Pieh, Chairman of HCSL-USA, the outreach focused on diagnosing and treating major non-communicable and chronic health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, stroke, and respiratory problems. Patients received diagnostic services, treatment, and long-term care, including free medications.
Dr. Pieh emphasized that the program was designed to complement government efforts in strengthening healthcare delivery and reducing preventable deaths, especially in regional hospitals.
Beyond patient care, the initiative also prioritized capacity building for healthcare workers. Training sessions were conducted on Essential Newborn Care Levels 1 and 2, as well as the Helping Babies Breathe Infant Resuscitation Program, aimed at reducing newborn and maternal mortality. The Bo Government Hospital was designated as a training site for these critical neonatal and emergency care programs.
Residents seeking further information were directed to program coordinators, including Dr. Michael Pieh, Chairman of HCSL-USA; Dr. Fouad Sheriff, Vice Chairman; Dr. Sulaiman Sannoh, coordinator for Helping Babies Breathe training; and Dr. Omar Bah, the Sierra Leone Liaison.
Health authorities encouraged residents of Bo and nearby communities to take advantage of the rare opportunity to access quality medical care free of charge, while healthcare workers were urged to participate in the professional training sessions.
Joseph John, one of the beneficiaries, shared that he had struggled with stomach problems for years and expressed gratitude to Health Care Sierra Leone for thinking about the less privileged, especially in the region. He appealed for the initiative to become a continuous process and requested that the number of days be expanded.
Madam Susan Tucker, another beneficiary, also expressed heartfelt appreciation for the free medical services, describing them as a timely and generous gesture.
