Sierra Leone

2012-2024

The Nov 24 Makeni BSSH team visit (see reports below)

This long term West African project in collaboration with ReSurge Africa is to support the development of Hand Surgery and the first reconstructive surgical unit in this desperately poor country. Since the project was initiated by Barbara Jemec in 2010 we have supported 17 surgical missions involving 36 BSSH members leading multidisciplinary teams. After a hiatus due to Ebola and later Covid the missions recommenced in 2019 with the goal of a reconstructive surgical unit staffed by local surgeons and therapists. 

The Holy Spirit Hospital in Makeni was established by Dr Patrick Turay and, with help from the Albano Diocese of Italy. It has 70 beds, an Outpatients Department, X-ray, a Pharmacy and two operating theatres, but no resident surgeons to undertake Hand surgery.

The Changing Landscape in Sierra Leone Health Care

With rising costs of air fares and reduction of available funds of the BSSH for overseas projects it is no longer financially viable to send surgical teams to Makeni. The future annual visits (In UK Autumn) will concentrate on teaching to invest in existing staff ensuring a more lasting legacy for future Hand Surgery healthcare thus fulfilling the original project goal.

The building of the new Reconstructive and Burns unit at Connaught hospital in Freetown will develop the original vision of specialist and reconstructive care of Hand injuries. Investment in the training of Surgical Assistant Community Health Officers (SACHO) in simple techniques (e.g wound debridement, splinting, tendon repair and skin grafting) together with therapy teaching and certificate. This will be in collaboration with The British Association of Hand Therapy (BAHT) and the ReSurge Africa charity that have supported staff training at both Makeni and Freetown over many years.

Surgical trainees will continue to be part of these teaching trips. (expression of interest contact the Societies training committee chair/secretariat).

Sierra Leone Lead - Mike Waldram

BSSH lead Reconstructive Unit Steve Hodgson

Therapy Lead Pascalle Smith

Local Contact - Abdulai Jalloh