Dr. med Mustapha Kabba Speaks On Sierra Leone NSOAP in Addis Ababa
The Chief Medical Officer- Clinical Services Dr. med Mustapha S. Kabba has presented the Sierra Leone National Surgical, Obdteric, and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) at the 3rd Pan-African Surgical Healthcare Forum (PASHeF) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) is a comprehensive roadmap designed to transform the country’s surgical landscape and save countless lives.
The historic plan which was formally unveiled in Freetown on 31st October 2025 by the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, paved the way for a compelling presentation at the 3rd Pan-African Surgical Healthcare Forum (PASHeF) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the plan’s lead architect, Dr. Kabba shared Sierra Leone’s bold vision with a pan-African audience.
In his address, Dr. Kabba moved beyond statistics to underscore the NSOAP’s profound human impact describing it as a transformative commitment to equity, access, and resilience in healthcare. He outlined ambitious, measurable targets aimed at closing the nation’s most pressing surgical gaps:
🔹 Expanding the Specialist Workforce: Increasing from a density of 1.6 to 5 per 100,000 people.
🔹 Expanding the Overall Surgical Workforce: From approximately 4.5 to 10 per 100,000.
🔹 Expanding Access to Surgery: From 505 to 1,000 procedures per 100,000 population, ensuring more citizens receive the lifesaving and life-changing operations they need.
🔹 Financial Protection: Establishing a sustainable surgical financing model to drastically reduce out-of-pocket expenses that prevent people from accessing care.
“This plan is more than a document; it is a covenant with the people of Sierra Leone,” Dr. Kabba stated. “We are placing the community at the very centre of its implementation and ensuring complete ownership and leadership from the Ministry of Health. This is about strengthening our surgical governance to address the high unmet surgical need, and to build a system that is resilient, sustainable, accountable, and responsive,” Dr. Kabba noted.
While acknowledging the challenges of limited funding, infrastructure deficits, and workforce shortages, Dr. Kabba struck an optimistic tone, highlighting the government’s unwavering political commitment and the strong partnerships driving the initiative forward.
He recognized the invaluable collaboration with Mercy Ships, CapaCare, Smile Train, UN agencies, and the World Health Organization, alongside regional partnerships with the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) and platforms such as PASHeF.
In a symbolic moment that cemented Sierra Leone’s dedication, Dr. Kabba formally presented the NSOAP document to the PASHeF Chairman, Professor Abeba, marking Sierra Leone’s entry into an elite group of African nations that have developed and committed to a National Surgical Plan.
The launch of the NSOAP heralds a new chapter in Sierra Leone’s journey toward equitable, high-quality surgical care. It stands as a testament to national leadership, collaboration, and the shared vision of a healthier and more resilient Sierra Leone where every citizen has the right to safe, timely, and affordable surgical care.
©️Communications & Media, DHAS
