Department of Psychiatry

About the Department

The Department of Psychiatry provides comprehensive mental health services, education, and research within the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex. Our team of consultants, registrars, nurses, and allied health professionals work together to deliver high-quality care in clinical psychiatry, psychotherapy, occupational therapy, rehabilitation, and community mental health.
The department is also accredited by the West African College of Physicians for residency training, positioning it as a center of excellence for psychiatric education and research in the region.

Head of Department

Dr. George Okechukwu Eze
Head of Department, Psychiatry Unit
Consultant Psychiatrist | Fellow, West African College of Physicians (FWACP)

Dr. George O. Eze is a Consultant Psychiatrist and Fellow of the West African College of Physicians. He currently serves as Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex.
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Eze worked at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu, Benin City, Nigeria, where he rose to the position of Acting Chief Medical Director. He has also served as Commissioner for Health, Enugu State, Nigeria, and held adjunct senior lecturer roles at Delta State University (Abraka), Enugu State University of Science and Technology, and the University of Benin. He is actively involved in training, clinical service, and research, and is married with children.

Our Services

We provide a broad range of mental health services, including:

• Clinical Psychiatry

• Psychotherapy

• Occupational Therapy

• Rehabilitation Services

• Laboratory & Pharmacy Services

• Drug Abuse & Detoxification Programs

• Psychiatric Emergency Care

• Undergraduate and Postgraduate Training inPsychiatry

Units within the Department

Clinical Services Unit

• Outpatient consultations and specialist care

• Ward/teaching rounds and case presentations

• Journal club and didactic lectures

• Emergency services and on-call duties

Consultants:

• Dr. George O. Eze

• Dr. Francis Nnaji

• Dr. Edward A. Nahim

Trainees: Registrars including Dr. Jusu Mattia, Dr. Kelfa K. Kpallu, Dr. Haja Kamara, among others.

Nursing Department

Provides 24-hour patient care, medication administration, hygiene support, ward rounds, psychotherapy assistance, and in-service training for staff.

Lead Staff:

• Matron Keikura A. Braimah and over 60 nurses, SRNs, SECHNs, and aides.

Nutrition Unit

Responsible for patient meal planning, dietary counseling, preparation, and nutritional record-keeping.

Team: Nutritionists, caterers, cooks, and stewardesses.

Occupational Therapy Unit

Offers group and individual therapy sessions including:

• Physical and vocational therapy

• Music therapy

• Indoor and outdoor recreational activities

• Counseling and life skills training

Psychosocial Support Unit

Focuses on psycho-education, patient and family counseling, multidisciplinary rounds, referrals, and family reunification.

Pharmacy Unit

• Dispensing medications to inpatients and outpatients

• Monitoring stock, expiry dates, and adverse drug reactions

• Monthly reporting on drug usage

Clinical Psychology Unit

• Individual and group psychotherapy

• Research and academic teaching

• Family and child mental health interventions

Child & Adolescent Mental Health Unit

Dedicated to children and adolescents through:

• Outpatient clinics

• School awareness campaigns

• Home visits

• Skills and parent support sessions

Human Resource Unit

Handles staff welfare, attendance monitoring, recruitment recommendations, and disciplinary processes.

Achievements

• Full five-year accreditation from the West African College of Physicians for residency training

• Seven successful candidates at the College’s Primary Examination

• Strong collaboration with Partners in Health to support residency training and rehabilitation programs

• Training of EEG technical staff now providing specialized diagnostic services

• Ongoing research projects at various stages

Challenges

• Shortage of specialized manpower

• Inadequate drug supply

• Limited logistics (transport and funding)

• Environmental concerns, including illicit drug activities and noise pollution

Regular Activities

• General Staff Meeting – monthly

• Management Meetings – twice monthly

• Child & Adolescent Mental Health Outreach – monthly

• Management Meetings – twice monthly

• Weekly Clinical & Teaching Rounds across all units

• Child & Adolescent Mental Health Outreach – monthly

• Monthly Case Reviews – monthly

• Weekly Clinical & Teaching Rounds across all units

Partners

The Department works in close partnership with Partners in Health and other stakeholders to strengthen mental health care delivery, training, and infrastructure development.

Department of Psychiatry – Staff Directory

Consultants & Specialists

Registrars & Trainees

Nursing Department

Leadership

Senior Registered Nurses (SRN)

State Enrolled Community Health Nurses (SECHN)

Other Nursing Roles

Allied Health Professionals

Support Staff (Nutrition & Others)

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