The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has officially welcomed Dr. Joe Amara Koroma, a Sierra Leonean who recently returned home after completing his Medical studies in Cuba as an outstanding student.

Dr. Koroma expressed thanks to the Sierra Leonean government and the Cuban authorities for providing the scholarship that enabled him to pursue Medicine in Cuba since 2014.

He explained that he chose to specialize in Cardiology because heart disease is a leading global cause of death, and Sierra Leone has very few specialists in that field.

He further acknowledged that the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, had been his lecturer back then in 2013, and that her teachings greatly contributed to his professional growth. He stressed the importance of mentorship, preventive measures, and collaboration with government institutions to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

The Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, expressed pride in Dr. Koroma’s accomplishments, recalling her role in teaching him during his earlier studies. She underscored the importance of building sustainable academic and professional partnerships between Sierra Leone and Cuba, while assuring that government will continue to support returning graduates.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Aiah Lebbie commended Dr. Koroma’s return, comparing his decision to his own choice to return to Sierra Leone after studying in the United States. He said Dr. Koroma’s achievement was proof of the quality of education Sierra Leoneans can attain abroad and emphasized the urgent need for more medical specialists in the country.

The Cuban Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Norma Sanchez, reaffirmed her country’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Sierra Leone. She urged stronger ties between universities in both nations, highlighting Cuba’s tradition of training Doctors from low-income countries.