By By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Sierra Leone’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mustapha Kabba, has challenged global health leaders, technology developers and investors to measure the success of digital health and artificial intelligence (AI) by a single benchmark: whether they enable health workers to make timely decisions that save lives.
Dr. Kabba made the call while delivering the keynote address at the Featured International Plenary of the 6th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Digital Health Symposium, held under the theme: “Healthcare Innovation in Low-Resource Settings: The Digital and AI Advantage.”
Addressing an international audience, the Chief Medical Officer stressed that speed and timing remain critical components of quality healthcare delivery, noting that technology should serve as a tool that empowers frontline health workers to act when it matters most.
“The value of a test result depends partly on when it arrives. A referral depends on whether the receiving team knows the patient is coming. A warning matters when there is still an opportunity to respond,” Dr. Kabba said. “Technology earns its place when it helps those people act in time.”
Highlighting Sierra Leone’s growing investment in digital health systems, Dr. Kabba pointed to the recently launched National Health Information Hub, an initiative unveiled earlier this year by Minister of Health Dr. Austin Demby.
According to him, the platform integrates data from health facilities, laboratories, disease surveillance teams and supply chain services that were previously managed through separate reporting channels. The consolidation of information, he explained, enables national and district health authorities to gain a clearer picture of the health system and respond more effectively to emerging needs.
He noted that the centralized system is improving the government’s ability to identify gaps, allocate resources and target interventions where they are needed most.
Dr. Kabba further urged development partners, donors and investors to ensure that future digital health innovations are compatible with Sierra Leone’s existing national systems, emphasizing the importance of interoperability and sustainability.
Concluding his address, he challenged stakeholders to carefully assess the real-world value of digital investments in healthcare.
“Whose work will improve, and how will we know?” he asked, urging innovators and funders to focus on practical outcomes that enhance frontline service delivery and improve patient care.
His remarks reinforced Sierra Leone’s commitment to harnessing digital technology and AI-driven solutions to strengthen healthcare systems, particularly in resource-constrained settings where timely information can mean the difference between life and death.