The World Health Organization (WHO) team led by the WHO Country Representative Dr Innocent Nuwagira joined the Senior Leadership of the Ministry of Health (MOH) led by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sartie Kenneh on a two-day visit from 22 to 23 August 2024 to Moyamba district to check the readiness of sites at different levels of health care to implement person-centered life stage approach to health service delivery, which is essential for achieiving Universal Health Coverage. 

The visits were made to three health facilities, including Moyamba Government Hospital, Moyamba Junction Community Health Centre (CHC), and Mokelly Maternal and Child Health Post (MCHP), chosen by the Ministry of Health as demonstration sites to implement a person-centered life stages approach to Universal Health Coverage. The teams met with staff, and identified areas of improvement that would ensure the smooth implementation of the person centred care. 

“Moyamba Government Hospital is clean, big enough and well organized hospital with comprehensive services and capbale of implementing person-centered life stages model of healthcare. To help create/increase demand, the hospital management needs to put in place a focal point for the community health workers unit to ensure linkages with the community health workers who will support to create demand for services at the health facilities,” said Dr Innocent Nuwagira, the WHO Country Representative

“I encourage the District Health Management Teams (DHMT) to do more by fixing the remaining gaps to ensure a very well-functioning person-centered care that is life-stage tailored. As WHO, we look forward to seeing a successful establishment of demonstration site that will move beyond a district hospital to a world center of excellence in person-centered care,” Added Dr Nuwagira 

“We thank the health workers for the great job that they are doing. As we move to the person-centered life stages approach, the MOH would like to see more integration of health services at a one particular point for people of all ages seeking health care,” said Dr. Sartie Kenneh, Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health

“The MOH Leadership will support and strengthen service delivery tailored to a person’s needs and stage of life in line with the Universal Health Coverage,” added Dr Kenneh. 

With support from WHO, the Ministry of Health developed the Siera Leone Framework for the person-centered Life Stages Approcah to Health Service Delivery, launched by the Honaourable Vice President Dr Mohammad Juldeh Jallow in May 2023. In his foreword to the document, the Hon Minister of Health, Dr Austin Demby, stated:  “The person-centered life stages approach will ensure that the health needs of individuals are addressed throughout their life course.” Additng that “this approach provides holistic care, recognizing that the care given at a particular point in time influences health at that moment and throughout all life stages”. It emphasizes addressing early 'upstream' health determinants to positively change personalized trajectories. This approach, when implemented, will lead to accessible, affordable health services and improved health and well-being for all Sierra Leonians nationwide.

Moyamba district has a catchment population of 399,084 people and is the largest district in the southern region by geographical area comprising of fourteen chiefdoms. 

In the meetings with the DHM) and health staff at the three health facilities, It was agreed that person-centered care could only be achieved through strengthened dedication, coordination, and collaboration between the MOH, DHMT, health facilities, , and all health and development partners.

During the visit, the MOH and WHO saw the need to strengthen community linkage components and integrate health services at all levels as a key component to achieving universal health coverage (UHC). 

In Moyamba Junction Community Health Centre, the team met with the health facility in charge, the maternity and delivery unit staff, and the laboratory staff. Their presentations and discussions enabled the MOH and WHO to better understand the need for more support, considering the health facility’s location, to ensure better access to quality health services, especially for those most in need. 

At Mokelly MCHP, the team witnessed the impact of the work that health staff and the community are doing to save the lives of the most vulnerable people in their community, including mothers and newborns. The community’s collective effort to construct a community health center using local resources was commendable. However, the team noted that the clinic building’s roof had curved in during the installation of a solar panel and that it was leaking, an issue that needed to be fixed hencecalling on the DHMT to prirotize it. 

The teams engaged in conversations with health workers in all three health facilities. Each of these individuals, working tirelessly, is unsung heros. Their resilience, and unwavering commitment to serving their communities were applauded, leaving a deep sense of appreciation and respect. 

In their meeting with the staff of Moyamba Government Hospital, they agreed on integrating and coordinating efforts towards a successful demonstration site and strengthening person-centered care as a pathway to achieving UHC. Further effort were needed to re-arrange services, create one-stop centres and establish an adolescent friendly center. 

The team left Moyamba district with a clear picture of how the implementation of the person-centered care will be conducted and coordinated across the three facilities and the role the MOH,  WHO, and other partners will play.

The WHO Representative reaffirmed WHO’s unwavering commitment to strengthening collaboration and support with national authorities and partners. This commitment aims to build a robust health system that can deliver health services to all people of all ages across Sierra Leone, ensuring that no one is left behind and faces access restrictions or financial difficulties.

 For Additional Information or to Request Interviews, please contact:

SHARKAH Madlyn

National Communication Officer
WHO Sierra Leone
Email: sharkahm [at] who.int (sharkahm[at]who[dot]int)