After years of experience as a nurse in Freetown and Kono, Mariama still felt she had more to learn but financial barriers stood in the way of additional training.
A staffing shortage led her to temporarily support the emergency unit at PIH-supported Koidu Government Hospital (KGH). This experience shifted her interests. “Emergency care is very different from general nursing. You have to be sharp, decisive, and every second counts,” she explains. Witnessing the challenges of emergency response with limited resources, Mariama chose to specialize in critical care. With a scholarship from Partners In Health Sierra Leone (PIH-SL), she trained at the School of Peri-operative and Critical Care Nursing in Ghana, for two years. Together with seven peers she became one of only a few Sierra Leonean nurses with this level of expertise.
At PIH-SL, the commitment to develop skilled health workers who can deliver high-quality care is at the heart of all core services. As the Maternal Center of Excellence prepares to open, this priority is playing a vital role in the planning process. “Are staff receiving the right training? Do they feel supported both personally and professionally? These factors directly impact how they interact with and diagnose patients,” says Isata Dumbuya, director of reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health at PIH-SL.
In this interview, Mariama shares her experience at the School of Peri-operative and Critical Care Nursing, the challenges she overcame, and her hopes for nursing and critical care in Kono.
How did you feel about leaving Sierra Leone to study at the School of Peri-operative and Critical Care Nursing in Ghana?
I had mixed feelings about it. There are a lot of stereotypes about Sierra Leoneans and people often treat us like we don’t know anything. It was my first time studying outside my country and I didn’t know what to expect from Ghana’s education system or their culture. I wasn’t sure if I would fit in.
Even though I was scared, I have always been someone who pushes through. We were told that the program organizers wanted to give us some extra training before the actual courses began, so we could meet the standards of their students.
The first week was tough but I kept working hard and little by little, I realized I could manage.
What was it like working in a Ghanaian Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for the first time?
One of my goals was to observe their ICU and see how their systems compared to ours. The first time I stepped into their ICU, I said to myself, “I am not a nurse.” I was completely lost. I saw a patient in bed connected to more than 20 wires and I didn’t know where to start. During the first week, I couldn’t figure it out. That moment made me realize that despite all my years of experience, I still had so much to learn.
I spent the first month just observing. It wasn’t until the second month that I was trusted to do something. The first time a nurse assigned me a task, I was so happy. She guided me with so much care. Afterward, I called her and thanked her for the opportunity.
Honestly, I wanted to run away at first. I was really sad because I didn’t know what to do. But the nurse told me that everyone’s journey in the field starts with some self-doubt. That gave me strength to keep going.
What was your biggest challenge during the program?
One of the biggest challenges was the language barrier not just on campus but also in the hospital wards. Most people spoke Twi and because we looked like Ghanaians, they often assumed we could understand it. During lectures, the lecturer could switch to the local dialect to explain a difficult concept and I would have to ask the person next to me what was going on. I would often raise my hand and say, “Please, I don’t speak Twi.”
What excites you about coming back to Sierra Leone and Kono?
I saw and learned a lot. Going to Ghana made me see how much we still need to do in Sierra Leone. Ghana is far ahead in terms of equipment, the level of care, and how they train their staff. Even though critical care nurses are few, they are actively training registered nurses to step into those roles, and with time, they become competent enough to manage critical patients.
Coming back to Kono, I feel a deep sense of responsibility. I know I can’t change everything overnight but we can start making small meaningful changes.
What developments at Koidu Government Hospital (KGH) are you most looking forward to?
One major development I am excited about is the new Maternal Center of Excellence (MCOE). It is a facility designed to provide comprehensive care for pregnant women and newborns. It will make a huge difference in our district. We have struggled for so long to reduce maternal mortality and it feels good to know that we are now part of the solution. The MCOE is a huge opportunity to reduce complications, prevent maternal deaths, and ease the frustrations that so many women experience when seeking care.
I also heard that KGH is starting to introduce Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and that’s something I really admire. You should go to a facility, give your patient number, and they should immediately access your full medical history.
What’s your favorite thing about Kono?
I love the way my profession is growing in Kono. It’s truly outstanding. In the past, Kono was mostly known for diamonds. I recently ran into some people who said they wanted to visit Kono because they heard that there’s a hospital that can cure all kinds of diseases. I was happy to hear it. It shows that the narrative is shifting.
Kono is becoming known as a place where people go to get their health back. Clinicians are also saying that if you want to build your skills and truly learn, Kono is the place to be. It’s becoming a big name and I am proud to be part of that story.
