Sierra Leone seeks UAE support for medical campus
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sierraloaded
Sierra Leone is seeking support from the United Arab Emirates to create the Jembe medical campus, with a 300-bed regional hospital and training facilities. Minister Austin H. Demby also announced falls of 32% in maternal mortality and 11.4% in infant mortality, according to Sierraloaded.
Sierra Leone’s Health Minister, Austin H. Demby, presented UAE authorities with a medical campus project comprising a 300-bed regional hospital and training facilities during talks held on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit. He said his government was seeking strategic partners to finance and build the site, Sierraloaded reported.
The minister discussed cooperation on healthcare infrastructure, public health emergency preparedness, and maternal and child health with his Emirati counterpart, Ahmed Bin Ali Al Sayegh. Demby also reported a 32% fall in maternal mortality and an 11.4% fall in infant mortality during the government’s “300 days of action” campaign for the survival of mothers, newborns and children. The campaign relies in particular on digital tools to monitor pregnancies and identify unvaccinated children.
Demby cited the construction of a 100-bed field hospital in Port Loko District, as well as emergency medical supplies and vaccination assistance during the mpox outbreak, among the UAE’s support already provided to Sierra Leone. The two ministers also discussed strengthening disease surveillance and emergency response capacities in light of the Ebola and Covid-19 epidemics.
The initiative is part of Freetown’s efforts to mobilise foreign partners in the health sector, following its appeal to China to modernise its hospitals, announced on 17 October.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
