A few days ago, the attention of the leadership of the Ministry of Health (MoH) was drawn to a very disturbing news circulating on social media about the death of a 30-year old woman at the Kambia Government Hospital. The alleged circumstances leading to the demise of this young woman, Kadiatu Pompay Kamara, has sent shockwaves and outrage with many calling for accountability, transparency and reform at the Kambia Government Hospital.

The report alleges that Kadiatu underwent a critical surgical procedure in the hands of a Community Health Officer (CHO) with no supervision from a trained medical doctor. According to the report, complications later occurred that were beyond the experience of the CHO to manage, which eventually led to the death of the 30-year-old patient. It is also alleged that the hospital currently operates without a trained medical doctor, leaving CHO’s with limited experience to perform surgical procedures including Cesarean Sections (CS).

The leadership of the Ministry wishes to extend a heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family and wants the public to know that a serious investigation has been launched into the matter. The experiences detailed in the report deserve to be heard and carefully examined and if the allegations are true, then such preventable maternal deaths are totally unacceptable.

"Everytime a life is lost, it is devastating. Deepest condolences to the bereaved family. May she rest in peace,” the Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, said after learning about the incident.

As much as this is an unfortunate situation that is being thoroughly investigated, it is also a teachable moment to ensure that out of this sad story, some good comes out even if not for the affected family but for the outcomes of the 350,000 - 400,000 pregnancies in Sierra Leone each year.

However, the allegations around the death of Kadiatu reflect only a snapshot of a complex, but rapidly improving service provision in Kambia. Kambia ha a Board Certified OBGYN Medical Superintendent and also one of the best District Medical Officers, Dr. Serah Conteh, who heads the District Health Medical Team (DMHT). A few years ago, Kambia went for over 65 days without a single maternal death and the district has reduced maternal death by 28% between 2024 and 2025. The District ranks sixth in terms of low maternal mortality in the whole of Sierra Leone. So, it is only fair to use that backdrop to frame the discussion.

On the issue of CHOs performing surgeries, it is a global standard for well trained CHOs to perform minor surgeries as a stop-gap measure in places with inadequate surgeons. They, however, need to be closely supervised. There are over 120 Medical resident doctors now in training across a broad spectrum of disciplines including surgery. Five years ago, there was hardly any. Last year, eight locally trained OBGYNs passed their West African College of surgeons exams to become surgeon specialists and they are now practicing surgeons in the country.

“We are not there yet, but we are well on our way,” the Minister points out.

It is critical that full comprehension of Sierra Leone’s healthcare journey is understood both in terms of its challenges and improvements, side by side. The MoH has revived hope in the health sector driven by a pledge to address longstanding gaps and to build a resilient, accessible and quality health system aligned with the country’s broader national development aspirations.

Just fifteen years ago, one in every hundred women faced a real-time risk of dying during childbirth, making Sierra Leone one of the worst places in the World for women to become mothers. Today, that figure has been slashed by over seventy percent from a troubling 1,165 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2008 to just 354 deaths per 100,000 live births currently.

Those figures represent not just data, they are women and babies alive today due to deliberate investments in skilled midwives, well-equipped facilities with all necessary medical supplies; including oxygen and electricity, among others. These are still far from ideal but they demonstrate very tangible gains that highlight a health system in transition; one determined to do even better.

The Ministry recognizes that infrastructural improvement, such as better health facilities and reliable utilities, including drugs and other medical supplies, are not enough. That is why there is deliberate investment in the training of fit-for-purpose health workers, especially midwives with a marked increase in skilled birth attendants from 60 to 87 percent in just a few years.

But, there are much bigger issues that the Kambia situation highlights. Sierra Leone currently grapples with a worrying 91% surgical need with only 15 resident surgeons nationwide. This stark shortage hampers efforts to provide safe surgical and emergency obstetric care, which are vital to achieving SDG 3’s targets on maternal and neonatal health.

Addressing these surgical needs requires sustained investment, policy reforms, and partner support. The government’s commitment to adopting the National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia Plan (NSOAP) is a step in this direction with the aim of expanding access to safe surgical care, especially to people in underserved districts like Kambia.

As the Government and health development partners work to improve infrastructure, train personnel and strengthen systems as well as improve health governance, the community’s active participation in service provision remains vital. While the recent tragedy in Kambia has cast a shadow of grief, it also serves as a catalyst for meaningful change. The Ministry of Health’s renewed commitment, coupled with active community involvement, presents an opportunity to transform not just the Kambia hospital but the country’s entire healthcare ecosystem. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/hope-restored-in-kambia-as-ministry-of-health-commits-to-improving-service-delivery/