06/03/2026
๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ Celebrating Dr Constance Cummings-John
As we have two more days to celebrate International Womenโs Day, Swit Salone is honouring and celebrating Sierra Leonean women who had and have contributed positively and immensely to the growth of our sweet Salone, and make Sierra Leone famous for the right reasons.
Todayโs honorable mention is a woman who, in 2024, made history not just for herself but for Sierra Leone as a whole.
She is a woman who set the pace for women in healthcare in Sierra Leone.
She works at the Connaught Hospital, Sierra Leoneโs largest referral hospital, as a general surgeon.
Her name is Dr Constance Cummings-John, Sierra Leoneโs first female general surgeon.
Cummings-John became a surgeon during an induction ceremony for fellows of the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) at the 64th annual general meeting in Freetown in March 2024.
She came from a family of history makers and a go-getter spirit. Her grandmother, who she was named after, is featured on the Bank of Sierra Leoneโs 20 Leone note.
Her grandmother, Constance Cummings-Johns, was the first Sierra Leonean and African woman to become Mayor of a major African city - the city of Freetown.
Given her family background, she knew there was an upheaval task ahead of her to keep the family name proud - and she did it!
Cummings-Johnโs journey serves as an inspiration to Sierra Leoneโs new generation of young doctors, especially women in health-related fields.
Sierra Leoneโs lack of surgeons, with 0.0625 general surgeons per 100,000 people, fired up her intuition to become a general surgeon.
She believed, worked hard and became the first female general surgeon in Sierra Leone - a feat worthy of emulating.