Sierra Leone’s healthcare system has taken a major step towards improving patient safety and strengthening infection control measures with the commencement of local production of essential hygiene supplies for public health facilities across the country.
The Ministry of Health launched the initiative on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at Youyi Building in Freetown, as part of activities marking its 300 Days of Activism for the Triple Zero campaign, which focuses on eliminating preventable maternal and child deaths and reaching children who have missed routine vaccinations.
The initiative, led by the Ministry’s National Infection Prevention and Control Programme, is aimed at ensuring that hospitals and other healthcare facilities have regular access to critical supplies needed to maintain safe and hygienic environments.
Under the programme, the Ministry has started producing liquid soap, hand sanitizer and liquid detergent locally for distribution to Government health facilities nationwide.
Health authorities say the move will strengthen daily infection prevention practices by supporting hand hygiene among healthcare workers, patients and visitors, while also improving the cleaning and maintenance of hospital environments and medical equipment.
Programme Manager of the National Infection Prevention and Control Programme, Nanah Fofanah, said reducing infections in healthcare settings is crucial in addressing preventable deaths, particularly maternal and child fatalities linked to complications such as sepsis.
She explained that effective infection prevention and control measures remain a key component of quality healthcare delivery, as they help protect patients, healthcare workers and communities from avoidable infections.
Sepsis, a severe and potentially fatal reaction to infection, remains a major health concern, with pregnant women, newborns, young children and people with weakened immune systems among those at greatest risk.
The Ministry noted that local production of infection prevention supplies will help address challenges associated with delayed imports, supply shortages and limited access to essential hygiene materials in health facilities.
Beyond improving availability, the initiative is expected to support cost reduction, strengthen self-reliance in the health sector and create a more sustainable supply chain for infection prevention commodities.
Health authorities said the programme forms part of broader efforts under the Government’s health sector reforms to improve the quality of care and ensure that citizens receive services in safer healthcare environments.
The Ministry of Health has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding infection prevention interventions and ensuring that all public health facilities have the necessary resources to protect patients and healthcare workers while reducing avoidable maternal and child deaths.