The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), conducted a strategic visit to the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital in Kissy, which is being prepared to admit 120 individuals affected by Kush and other substance-related disorders. This initiative is part of the government’s broader response to the growing drug epidemic, with a focus on holistic rehabilitation and mental health care.
Present at the visit were Acting Minister of Health Dr. Charles Senesie, Executive Director of NPHA Professor Foday Sahr, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mustapha Kabba, RCCE Lead Mr. Harold Thomas, RCCE Manager Mr. Patrick Lansana and Public Relations Officer Miss Rachael A. Kuyembeh. The hospital team was represented by Professor Dr. George Eze, Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital and overseer of the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital, Acting Medical Superintendent Dr. Haja Abibatu Jalloh, and Sr. Abdul Jalloh, Director of Mental Health and Noncommunicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health and Consultant Psychiatrist. A cross-section of hospital staff, medical students, and student nurses also participated in the engagement.
The program began with individual prayers, setting a tone of unity and reflection. Dr. Abdul Jalloh welcomed the delegation and introduced the high table, expressing deep appreciation for the visit. He emphasized the importance of the facility in responding to the national crisis, stating that the hospital is not just a place of treatment but a center of hope and healing. He called on all present to approach the work ahead with compassion and commitment.
Dr. Kabba then addressed the audience, highlighting the urgency of the Kush epidemic and the government's decision to remove affected individuals from the streets for proper detoxification and care. He explained that many victims suffer from underlying health conditions and require specialized treatment. He noted that more mental health nurses are currently being trained and urged those present to show empathy and professionalism. “Drug addiction is not a crime. It is a cry for help,” he said. “Let us be the hands that lift, not the eyes that judge.”
Dr. Haja Abibatu Jalloh spoke with conviction about the hospital’s readiness to receive the Kush victims. She assured the audience that every individual admitted will be treated with dignity and care. “We are prepared to welcome them not as patients but as brothers and sisters in need of healing,” she said. “This epidemic affects all of us, our communities, our families, and our future. We must respond with compassion and clinical excellence.”
Professor Foday Sahr, appointed by President Julius Maada Bio on 15th September 2023 as National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on Drugs and Substance Abuse, outlinedmulti-sectoral approach being taken. He listed the ministries and agencies involved, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Welfare, NDMA, Ministry of Youth, Office of National Security, Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Sierra Leone Police, Ministry of Local Government, and Ministry of Information and Civic Education. He emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “This is a national crisis that demands a national response. Every ministry, every agency, and every community must play its part.”
He also told the audience of the opening of new rehabilitation centers in Godama, Bo District, which will serve the Southern Province and Daru in the Eastern Province. These centers will serve as regional hubs for detoxification, counseling, and reintegration, complementing the efforts at the Kissy Psychiatric Hospital.
Following the statements, Dr. Abdul Jalloh and Professor George Eze led a tour of the facility, showcasing its capacity to care for the incoming patients. The delegation viewed the wards, counseling rooms, and support areas, all of which are being prepared to ensure a safe and therapeutic environment. The visit concluded with a renewed commitment to unity, compassion, and action in the face of Sierra Leone’s drug crisis.
Public Relations Unit
NPHA-SL