By Kelfala Kargbo
Freetown, 23rd March 2026- The University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex (USLTHC) has celebrated its 10th anniversary, reflecting on a decade of achievements in medical training and healthcare delivery.
The milestone event provided an opportunity to look back on the institution’s journey, its successes, challenges, and future ambitions. Outgoing Chairperson of USLTHC, Dr. Sonia Spencer, acknowledged the difficulties faced at the outset but emphasized the remarkable progress made in recent years.
“From scratch, we have trained 30 specialists and five consultants,” she said, noting that the institution has transformed Sierra Leone’s medical landscape.
Before USLTHC was established in 2016, Sierra Leone had no neurosurgery services. Today, procedures are being performed at Connaught Hospital, thanks to partnerships such as Mission Brain, which sponsored two Sierra Leonean doctors to study neurosurgery in Morocco.
Dr. Spencer also highlighted strides in psychiatric care. For decades, Sierra Leone had only one trained psychiatrist, Dr. Naim, at the Kissy Psychiatric Hospital. Now, nine doctors are undergoing specialist training to expand mental health services nationwide.
Pathology remains another critical area. Currently, Sierra Leone has only one pathologist, Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma, who provides services to more than 40 hospitals across the country. However, two doctors are being trained locally to succeed him, while two others are pursuing training in Nigeria. Upon their return, they will strengthen the country’s capacity to train more specialists.
Dr. Spencer concluded by commending the government’s support and urging Sierra Leoneans to place greater trust in the medical profession. “The country now has more trained and qualified doctors than ever before,” she said.
