By Joseph Momoh, Daily Scope
Makeni, April 14, 2026 Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Services, Dr. Mustapha Kabba, on Saturday commended health workers at Makeni Regional Hospital for improving patient care, while urging them to raise standards as government expands investment in the health sector. He spoke during the commissioning of the hospital’s rehabilitated Special Baby Care Unit, a facility designed to handle neonatal emergencies and provide intensive care for premature and low-birth-weight infants.
Dr. Kabba praised staff for their resilience despite resource constraints and growing patient numbers, crediting their work for better maternal and child health indicators in Bombali District. He said government is revamping healthcare systems and strengthening welfare support for health workers to ensure effective service delivery. “Our country is currently experiencing the fastest growth in the health sector, which has never been more important than now,” he noted. He added that infrastructure upgrades will be tied to accountability, data-driven decisions, and professional discipline from frontline staff.
Medical Superintendent Dr. Aminata Sesay said the old neonatal ward was overstretched and lacked key equipment. The rehabilitated unit, funded by government and health sector partners, now has incubators, phototherapy units, oxygen supply lines, and dedicated power backup. She said the upgrade will allow the hospital to stabilize and manage more critical newborn cases locally instead of referring them to Freetown. Speaking for mothers, Kadiatu Patricia Kabba said infants are already receiving proper treatment, a development she described as well pleasing to families.
Dr. Kabba announced that digital reporting tools for maternal and neonatal indicators are being rolled out, and facility funding will soon be linked to performance benchmarks. He said training for neonatal nurses and pediatric clinicians will expand through the University of Makeni and the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. The unit is expected to help cut neonatal deaths in Bombali and nearby chiefdoms over the next 12 months.
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