Dr. Abdul Jalloh is a highly respected Consultant Psychiatrist, public health leader, and scholar who currently serves as the Director of Mental Health and NonCommunicable Diseases (NCD) at the Ministry of Health in Sierra Leone. With over a decade of experience spanning clinical care, policy development, academic mentorship, and global health leadership, he has emerged as a transformative figure in advancing mental health and NCD systems in West Africa.

Dr. Jalloh’s leadership has been central to reshaping mental health services in Sierra Leone. He led the reform of the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital, where he oversaw the abolition of the long-standing practice of chaining patients, replacing it with rights-based, person-centred models of care. He was instrumental in the development of the country’s first National Mental Health Policy and Strategic Plan (2024–2030). He guided the drafting of a new Mental Health Bill, aimed at replacing the colonial-era Lunacy Act of 1902. Through his founding of the Mental Health Champions Network of Sierra Leone, he has also galvanised a nationwide movement to combat stigma, empower community actors, and promote mental health literacy.

At the intersection of personal commitment and professional expertise lies Dr. Jalloh’s unique lived experience with sickle cell disease, which has shaped his lifelong dedication to equity in healthcare. Living with this condition has not only deepened his empathy as a clinician and policymaker but also fueled his advocacy for comprehensive, accessible, and dignified care for individuals affected by sickle cell disease and other chronic conditions. Under his leadership, the Ministry’s NCD Directorate has prioritised sickle cell disease within the broader national agenda, with a focus on early detection, access to hydroxyurea, adolescent-focused models of care, and psychosocial support for families.

In addition to his government role, Dr. Jalloh is an active academic. He serves as a Lecturer in Psychiatry at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, where he mentors medical students and young doctors, many of whom have gone on to pursue psychiatry and public health careers. He also holds an Honorary Clinical Lectureship at the University of Glasgow’s School of Health and Wellbeing. He collaborates on global research in health systems, mental health integration, and implementation science.

Dr. Jalloh’s academic qualifications reflect a deep and interdisciplinary training portfolio. He earned his MBChB from the University of Sierra Leone, followed by a Master of Medicine (MMed) in Psychiatry from the University of Nairobi. He went on to obtain an MSc in Global Mental Health from the University of Glasgow, a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health Policy and Services from the Lisbon Institute for Global Mental Health, and a Certificate in Mental Health Leadership from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

His contributions have earned him numerous accolades and affiliations. He is a Fellow of the Africa Institute for Public Health, a Fellow of the Sierra Leone College of Physicians and Surgeons, a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and an International Associate of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the United Kingdom. He is also a Chevening Scholar (2021) and a Cohort 4 Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Fellow, recognised for his dedication to systems thinking, strategic planning, and African-led solutions in public health.

Dr. Jalloh has served as a consultant to a range of global health institutions, including UNAIDS, UNDP, and Partners In Health, and sits on the Board of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, where he contributes to national substance use prevention and rehabilitation strategies. Whether shaping national policy, mentoring future health leaders, or championing patient-centred care rooted in lived experience, Dr. Jalloh continues to be a powerful advocate for transforming health systems across Africa, especially for the underserved and those affected by chronic and stigmatised conditions like sickle cell disease. His voice, grounded in personal and professional insight, would be a strategic and compassionate addition to the Africa CDC Technical Working Group on Sickle Cell Disease.