One thing about Marie Stopes Sierra Leone is this: we believe quality care does not happen by accident. It happens because people are trained, supported, and constantly sharpened.
Over the years, training has never been an afterthought for us. It is part of our culture. We do not only think about the services provided within our own clinics; we think about the wider health system. We think about the nurse in a government facility in a hard-to-reach area. We think about the volunteer who may be the only trained provider available when demand suddenly increases. We think about whether they feel confident enough to serve the woman sitting in front of them.
That mindset is what guided our recent training of 40 government volunteer nurses from selected facilities across 14 districts.
From 26th January to 6th February 2026, these nurses joined us for a focused learning experience designed to strengthen their capacity in delivering quality Family Planning services, particularly long-acting reversible contraceptives. These are volunteers who already support government facilities, and our role was not to “train the nation,” but to strengthen the hands that are already serving within it.
Practice Makes Better
During the training, participants revisited national clinical protocols and counselling standards. They discussed what respectful, confidential, client-centred care truly looks like in practice, especially when serving adolescents, women living with disabilities, and clients who may already feel unsure or hesitant. The conversations were practical and grounded in the realities they face in their facilities every day.
Learning did not remain inside the classroom. The nurses practised procedures using anatomical models and job aids, guided closely by certified master trainers. They were encouraged to ask questions freely, clarify doubts, and refine their technique until they felt assured in their skill.
To strengthen that learning further, the participants were deployed in small groups to join Marie Stopes Sierra Leone outreach teams in Kenema, Bo, Bonthe, Moyamba, and Pujehun. There, under supervision, they interacted with clients and observed service delivery in real community settings. That exposure matters because real confidence often comes from practice in real situations.
By the end of the programme, the difference was visible. Assessments conducted before and after the training showed measurable improvement, but beyond the scores, you could see it in how participants explained procedures and handled instruments. There was less hesitation and more certainty.
For us, this is what capacity building looks like. It is not loud. It does not always come with a stage or a microphone. It is steady work that strengthens the system from within.
When volunteer nurses are properly trained, government facilities are better equipped to provide consistent Family Planning services. When services are consistent, women do not have to travel long distances or postpone important decisions about their health. When providers understand both the clinical and counselling aspects of care, clients receive not just a method, but informed and respectful support.
As we continue to partner with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders, Marie Stopes Sierra Leone remains committed to ensuring that quality reproductive health care is not limited to one location or one team. It should be available wherever a woman walks in seeking care.
That is why we train. That is why we invest time. That is why we build stronger hands.