Freetown, 9th July 2026- Sierra Leone’s healthcare sector has received a major boost as five young medical doctors and one nurse returned home this week after completing advanced training in hematology — the study and treatment of blood — in Italy.
The group won full scholarships in February under a partnership between the Ministry of Health and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), through the project “Professional and Academic Training for the Consolidation of the Blood Transfusion System in Sierra Leone.”
Officials described their return as a joyful and inspiring milestone for the country’s medical services. The training, they said, marks a new chapter in strengthening national blood and laboratory systems, with direct benefits for maternal health.
Postpartum haemorrhage — severe bleeding after childbirth — remains one of the leading causes of maternal deaths in Sierra Leone. The newly trained specialists are expected to improve diagnosis and treatment capabilities, ensuring safer childbirth for mothers across the country.
“This advanced training will help us save lives,” a senior health ministry official noted. “By building expertise in blood disorders and transfusion services, we are strengthening the foundation of maternal and emergency care nationwide.”
The program is part of a broader effort to expand professional and academic training for Sierra Leone’s health workforce. By investing in specialized skills, the Ministry of Health aims to reduce reliance on external expertise and build a sustainable system capable of responding to complex medical challenges.
The doctors and nurse are expected to take up roles in key hospitals and laboratories, where they will train colleagues, improve blood transfusion practices, and contribute to ongoing reforms in the health sector.
