Dr Henry E. C. Carter

Dr. Henry Edward Clarence Carter is a highly skilled pharmacist and supply chain leader with nearly 15 years of experience in Sierra Leone’s health sector. He has extensive expertise in pharmaceutical regulation, logistics management, policy development, and public health, with a career spanning the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Health, and the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services (DPS), one of the Ministry of Health’s key directorates. Before his appointment as Director of Operations at NMSA, he served as the Principal Pharmacist and Manager of the LMIS Unit at DPS, where he supported the deployment of the mSupply inventory management system and coordinated the monitoring and supervision of mSupply mobile sites nationwide. He also played a key role in national forecasting and quantification exercises that informed procurement and supply planning for essential medicines.

Dr. Carter’s leadership within DPS extended beyond data systems to include policy and governance reforms. He contributed to developing several foundational documents, including the National Health Supply Chain Strategy (NHSCS), the Standard Operating Procedures Manual for the Integrated Logistics Management of Health Commodities (including its rollout, training of facility staff, and nationwide dissemination), and the Streamlined Governance and Coordination Mechanism for the Health Supply Chain in Sierra Leone (April 2023). These contributions have strengthened national supply chain governance, improved accountability, and clarified coordination frameworks across the Ministry of Health and its partners.

Alongside his professional roles, Dr. Carter has been a part-time lecturer in pharmaceutics at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, where he teaches final-year pharmacy students and mentors young professionals entering the pharmaceutical sector. His dedication to mentorship has helped nurture the next generation of pharmacists and supply chain leaders. In recognition of his achievements, Dr. Carter was named among the Top 100 Professionals in Sierra Leone in 2024. He is also a Fellow in the International Program in Public Health Leadership (IPPHL) at the University of Washington, further developing his expertise in leadership and policy implementation across African health systems.

Education

– Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons), University of Sierra Leone

– MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences with Management Studies, Kingston University, UK

– Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D), University of Benin, Nigeria

– Postgraduate Diploma in Global Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Empower School of Health / Kent State University

– Fellow, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (Public Health)

– Foundation Fellow, College of Pharmacists Sierra Leone (Public Health Pharmacy)

Primary Responsibilities

– Advise the Managing Director on logistics and operations, including warehousing and distribution of health products.

– Provide leadership for distribution, ensuring timely, cost-effective delivery of commodities.

– Lead the implementation of NMSA’s operational strategic plan, aligned with national priorities.

– Manage warehousing operations, including vertical donor-funded programs.

– Oversee supply chain tracking and promote data-driven decisions using the mSupply inventory management system and DHIS2.

– Coordinate monitoring and supervision of mSupply mobile sites nationwide.

– Promote efficient inventory practices to reduce stockouts, wastage, and expiries.

– Supervise the National Logistics Manager, Warehouse Manager, and MIS Supervisor.

– Strengthen partnerships with district health teams, donors, and stakeholders to foster accountability and collaboration.