By: Abdul Razack Gbla
As Sierra Leone continues to grapple with the surge of kush addiction, a potent synthetic drug wreaking havoc among the nation’s youth, Ramsy Medical Laboratories (RML), has emerged at the forefront of combating this crisis. The Ramsy Medical Laboratories (RML) the leading clinical diagnostic and analytical science provider, was recently featured in the Financial Times and the Guardian for its pioneering efforts to address the devastating health impacts of kush in Sierra Leone. In an exclusive interview with the global news outlet, Financial Times, Dr. Abass Wurie, the Managing Director of Ramsy Medical Laboratories, provided a candid and insightful analysis of the crisis, highlighting both the dire consequences of kush addiction and the broader societal issues driving its widespread.
When he spoke to the Financial Times In his recent interview, Dr. Wurie highlighted the dire consequences of kush addiction, which has left a devastating toll on Sierra Leone’s youth. His research, particularly on the drug’s effects on the heart and kidneys, is critical in understanding and mitigating the health impacts of kush.
“People are addicted to escape,” Dr. Wurie explained, shedding light on the psychological and social factors driving the epidemic. “They are addicted to leaving this realm to be somewhere else. [Kush] is just a symptom…we’ve ended up with a lot of people who just don’t want to be awake. The day is too long to not have anything to do,” he noted.
Ramsy Managing Director insights come at a time when the Kush crisis has overwhelmed Sierra Leone’s underdeveloped health system. The country’s only psychiatric hospital has seen a staggering 1,000 percent increase in drug abuse-linked admissions between 2020 and 2022, showing the urgency of the situation. The government, led by President Julius Maada Bio, has declared a national emergency on drug and substance abuse, emphasising the need for coordinated action.
RML’s contribution to this fight extends beyond clinical diagnostics. The laboratory actively participates in national surveillance, training, evaluations, and quality assurance programs for clinicians across the country. Dr. Wurie’s leadership has ensured that RML remains a critical partner to both government structures and private healthcare providers, offering confirmatory testing and analytical services essential in tackling the crisis.
Moreover, RML’s dedication to in-service training and continuous professional development for laboratory scientists is helping to strengthen the health workforce in Sierra Leone by investing in the education and training of healthcare professionals.
Ramsy Medical Laboratory, established in 1987 with approval from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation with several international accreditations includes African Society of Laboratory Medicine (4 stars) and the Gulf Health Council etc. which has prided them as the cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s healthcare system. With its headquarters on Liverpool Street in Freetown, RML operates a main laboratory, a branch in Bo, and a collection site in the East End of the Western Area. The laboratory’s facilities house state-of-the-art pathological labs, an analytical laboratory, and a training and conference center, making it a hub for both diagnostics and education.
It is evident that the nation is grappling with the devastating effects of kush; however, the role of Ramsy Medical Laboratories cannot be overstated. Their work is not just about diagnosing and treating the physical symptoms of addiction but also about addressing the underlying social issues that fuel substance abuse. Sierra Leoneans are calling on other laboratories to join the fight against kush, as part of their cooperate social responsibility.
