Fatmata H. Turay (FBC Intern), AYV News, September 29, 2025
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has officially ended its medical support in the districts of Bombali and Tonkolili in Sierra Leone, after nearly ten years of working with the Ministry of Health in strengthening the country’s health system.
MSF Head of Mission in Sierra Leone, Abi Kebra Belaye said, “Since 2016, our teams have supported thousands of women, children and patients affected by tuberculosis. For almost a decade, our work has been driven by a commitment to serve those most in need. We leave with a deep sense of fulfilment and proud of the achievements made in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the communities we have served”.
Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Health 1, Professor Dr. Charles Senessie, praised MSF for its decades-long support in strengthening the nation’s healthcare system. He described MSF as a critical partner whose contribution has helped save countless lives across the country.
“MSF has walked with us through the darkest moments—from Ebola to COVID-19—and has aligned with our national health vision every step of the way,” the minister said, while commending their efforts in primary healthcare, noting its role in equipping local clinics, improving maternal health, and raising patient care standards.
He said, “Your work has been phenomenal, especially in underserved communities. You helped reduce maternal mortality and built referral systems in areas with poor road access”.
Reflecting on his own experience working with MSF in 1999, Prof. Senessie recounted how the organisation stepped in during a healthcare crisis when no other services were available. “They provided hope when all seemed lost”, he said, highlighting MSF’s contributions in four core areas: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Care, Referral Systems, and Health Security, including its leadership in pandemic response during Ebola, COVID-19, and Mpox.
The minister emphasised MSF’s alignment with the “Four A’s” framework: Alignment, Acceleration, Accountability, and Action.
Despite the partial exit, the minister assured the public that MSF’s legacy will remain rooted in Sierra Leone. “You are leaving, but your policies, your structures, your hearts remain with us. We will build upon what you started.”
MSF has not folded up completely in Sierra Leone, but endedits medical support in the Bombali and Tonkolili districts. The organisation will continue to operate other programs in the country, including responding to the ongoing Mpox outbreak.
MSF is transitioning its medical activities in Bombali and Tonkolili to Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and other health partners. This phased withdrawal began in early 2024 with a steering committee to ensure a smooth handover. In these districts, MSF focused on maternal and child health and strengthening tuberculosis care.
MSF continues to work in Sierra Leone through various programs, including responding to a 2025 Mpox outbreak by treating patients, rehabilitating isolation wards, and setting up a treatment centre in Freetown.
In the Kenema district, MSF focuses on reducing maternal and child mortality. The organisation also provides general humanitarian aid, such as treating malaria, offering community-based care, and training local health staff.
