Freetown, April 22, 2025 – Following reports of a devastating windstorm that struck the Nixon Methodist Hospital on April 19, 2025, in Segbwema, Kailahun District, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has conducted an initial assessment of the damage sustained by critical infrastructure providing both healthcare services and nursing education.
The hospital, which also hosts a branch of the Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone (ETU-SL) Nursing Training School, suffered extensive structural damage. Also, the windstorm completely unroofed the only functional storey building used as a student hostel.
Additionally, the lecture theatre, parts of the maternity ward, and the hospital’s perimeter fence was partially destroyed.
According to the NDMA assessment, the nursing school currently accommodates 180 students enrolled in various health-related programs. Fortunately, the incident occurred while students were away on Easter holiday, averting a potentially tragic outcome.
However, with students expected to return immediately after the Independence Day break, the damage now threatens to disrupt both learning and accommodation.
In a formal letter to the NDMA, the Registrar of the University, Mr. John Juana, expressed deep concern over the impact of the incident and appealed for urgent intervention to restore the affected facilities.
“This is a complete setback not only for the hospital and its patients but also for the nursing students and the continued operations of the university at this location,” the Registrar stated.
The NDMA’s assessment team has documented the extent of the damage and is compiling its findings to inform the next course of action in collaboration with relevant authorities and stakeholders.
The Agency remains committed to working with partners to mobilize support for the reconstruction of the affected hospital infrastructure and to ensure the timely resumption of academic activities at the Nursing School.
For More Enquiries:
Directorate of Communications
Contact: Toll-free line 1199 available on all networks
Email: mohamedlbah@ndma.gov.sl
Website: www.ndma.gov.sl
