By Kemo Cham
The Defense Medical Services (DMS) of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) has graduated 450 healthcare workers after completion of various courses as part of ongoing effort to boost the country’s healthcare system.
First Lady Fatima Bio presided over the certification ceremony on Saturday, April 10, at the Armed Forces Training Center in Benguima, Waterloo, about 30km outside the capital, Freetown.
The dedicated professionals who graduated are expected to join the staff of the recently established state-of-the-art 600-bed multipurpose complex at the 34 Military Hospital.
“I extend a warm welcome to the newly certified healthcare workers and encourage them to serve our nation with professionalism, dedication, and compassion,” Mrs Bio said in a social media post after presiding over the event.
The DMS, a specialized department within the RSLAF, is housed within the 34 Military Hospital in the west end of Freetown. It was created to provide comprehensive medical care for military personnel and civilians.
Commissioned in December 2024, the state-of-the-art 600-bed facility is equipped with advanced medical technologies and dedicated departments for maternal health, surgery, pediatrics, and trauma care. Its Centre of Excellence for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence was described as the first of its kind in the country.
It was designed to address a wide range of challenging medical conditions, with the goal of reducing the need for overseas referrals. It also reinforces the 34MH’s status as a training center for nurses, doctors, and pharmacists. It notably houses a specialized Centre of Excellence for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) survivors. Other areas of service provided by the facility include HIV/AIDS, and Disease Surveillance & Research.
A little over a year later, the 34MH has introduced groundbreaking initiatives including telemedicine consultations, and partnerships with international medical institutions, notably China and the US.
This ultramodern facility represents a significant step forward in expanding access to quality healthcare for Sierra Leoneans. As of early 2025, Sierra Leone boasts of 30 hospitals and 1,198 peripheral health units (PHUs) across the country. Officials say the establishment of the multi-purpose facility at the 34MH makes it the largest among the 30 health facility in the country.
Data provided by the Ministry of Health show that over 80% of the country’s eight million population have access to a health facility within a 5 kilometer radius, a critical indicator of primary healthcare accessibility, especially in rural areas, as recommended by the World Health Organization.
While the Sierra Leone government seeks to bridge the gap in health infrastructure, the demand for well trained personnel to provide services in existing facilities becomes even more urgent, say officials, hence the importance of the trainings provided by the DMS.
The inauguration of the state of the art facility at the 34MH last year marked the expansion of the hospital from a 150-bed to a 600-bed facility.
With the expansion, RSLAF is seeking to attain Level 3 status for the hospital.
