Layerworks for the road leading to the warehouse.
Reliable supply chain systems are essential to patient care. Hospitals must maintain consistent access to medications, consumables, and other critical materials to operate effectively. The Dorma Distribution Center is part of a broader infrastructure initiative at Koidu Government Hospital in Kono District, Sierra Leone, designed to strengthen these systems at scale.
Strategically located adjacent to the Maternal Center of Excellence (MCOE), the facility enhances the storage, management, and distribution of medical supplies. Designed and constructed by Build Health International (BHI), the Dorma Distribution Center builds upon BHI’s recent work on the MCOE, which expands outpatient, inpatient, and surgical services for expectant mothers and is now receiving patients. Together, these facilities represent a coordinated investment in both care delivery and the systems that sustain it.
Racking and shelving in the temperature-controlled room.
The Dorma Distribution Center will serve as a centralized logistics hub supporting healthcare service delivery in Kono. Additional facilities planned for the campus include a training center and dormitory to support healthcare workers and strengthen local capacity.
The facility’s design reflects a commitment to durability and long-term performance, particularly through the extensive use of reinforced steel throughout the structure. This level of structural investment is not typical for facilities of this kind in the region and, similar to the MCOE, sets a higher standard for how healthcare infrastructure can be designed and delivered in Sierra Leone.
Installation of the handrails on the ramp done by Alhaji Morray on the far left, Fanta Mansaray standing, Aiah Menjor, and Sheka Kamara on the far right.
During a site visit in January 2026, BHI project managers witnessed the pace of progress firsthand. Just months earlier, the structure consisted of a steel frame without siding or roofing. Today, the building is nearing completion and preparing for handover to Partners In Health, who will manage operations across the campus.
“The scale of the collaboration on site is impressive,” Project Manager Sarah Godschall noted. “You see local laborers working alongside team members from across Africa, the United States, Spain, Haiti and the Caribbean. There is real pride in the work and a shared commitment to completing the project.”
Click on the aerial view to see the progress!
September 2023 to March 2026
Handover of the Dorma Distribution Center is taking place this month, marking a major milestone for healthcare infrastructure in Kono District. Partners In Health will begin moving into the facility in mid-April, preparing the space for full operations expected to launch in June to strengthen supply chains and improve reliable access to essential care.