July 12, 2025, 5:30pm MDT
In an African country where only public intensive care units lack the basics of saving lives, amazing change offers hope and healing.
With massive renovations and equipment donations from the Latter-day Saints’ Church of Jesus Christ, Connaught Hospital ICU in Freetown, Sierra Leone, essentially needed an upgrade – is being revitalized by modern life-saving facilities, reported by Churchofjeschrist.org.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1g-gnbkbse
At the ceremony held on June 25th, government leaders, hospital staff, church leaders and community members gathered to celebrate what many called “revivals.”
Pointing to him for making the donation possible, Matron of the ICU said, “On behalf of the hospital administrators and staff, I would like to thank God for creating this event first.”
Prior to this donation, the ICU worked without reliable oxygen, ventilators, critical monitors, and even standard patient beds. The conditions were disastrous, especially for the facility that serves as the only public ICU in the country, and for the facility that serves as the University of Sierra Leone School of Medicine and the leading teaching hospital for the Allied Health Sciences.
That important need has led hospital administrators to reach out to the church for help. After visiting and assessing the facility, the church promised not only to renovate the floor-to-ceiling ICU, but also to equip it with state-of-the-art medical tools.
The upgraded units include 12 fully equipped critical care beds each with ECG machines, Vital Sign Monitors, Pulse Oxixiters, defibrillators, infusion pumps and a centralized oxygen delivery system.
The ICU currently meets international fire safety standards and includes isolation rooms for patients with infectious diseases.
“This is not just a renovation, it’s a revival,” said Dr. Mark I. Kapuwa, Hospital Care Manager at Connaught. “Thanks to our unwavering partnership with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our ICU has been reborn and renovated from floor to ceiling.
On behalf of the Church, Elder Isaac K. Morrison, the 70 presidents and counselor of the Church’s Western African President, reflects how this humanitarian project aligns with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
“The Savior’s ministry was filled with acts of healing as well as spiritual teaching,” Elder Morrison said. “Your continued efforts to care for the sick and suffering truly reflect the example of Jesus Christ. Our Church is honoured to partner with you… May these resources enable you to carry out your noble mission to save your life.”
Pointing to gratitude, as explained in Luke 17, Kapuwa asked the mother of the ICU to represent the hospital for gratitude.
She said: “On behalf of the hospital administrators and staff, thank you so much, from the deepest of my heart to the Church of Jesus Christ for Latter-day Saints. I am truly grateful for your efforts and generosity in providing a promotional environment for us and our patients.”
First Lady Fatima Maada Bio has released a release celebrating the renovation as a model for cooperation between government and faith-based organizations. She said, “This renovation is not just a renovation. It represents a revival.”
She explained that the church and the government share similar objectives. “This project is realized through trust, transparency and shared purposes and strengthens the position of Connaut Hospital as a referral and teaching hospital.”
The First Lady emphasized that she is committed to maintaining the facility not only as an ICU for the government to work, but also as an example of medical excellence that raises the training standards for future generations of healthcare workers in Sierra Leone.
“This initiative goes beyond physical infrastructure and embodies the nation’s aspirations for a high-quality work environment and commitment to public health,” she said. “The government ensures that the facility will remain an exemplary education and training school, and that it is raising the level of medical education and practice in the country.”
Kapuwa called the event “a proud moment of unity and progress.” He told Facebook: “We’re building a healthier future. We’re building one milestone at a time.”
In his remarks at the ceremony, Elder Morrison reinforced the Christlike motivation behind the humanitarian work of the Church.
“As a church, humanitarian work embodies disciples, not merely charity,” he said. “We will give this donation to you and our nation, as exemplified by our healing, beloved and comforted Savior. We are reminded that even in challenging times, we can make a difference by working with compassion and following the Savior’s example.”
