Sierra Leone Makes Huge Gains In Maternal Deaths Reduction
Sierra Leone has recorded a dramatic 76 percent reduction in maternal mortality, marking what government officials describe as the fastest decline globally in recent years.
Deputy Minister of Health I, Charles Senesi, made the disclosure during the Civic Day Series engagement in Kono District, where government officials met with residents to account for sectoral progress and ongoing reforms.
He noted that the sharp decline in maternal deaths is the result of sustained investments in maternal and reproductive healthcare, including the expansion of skilled birth attendance, improved emergency obstetric care, increased availability of essential drugs, and strengthened referral systems across districts.
In addition to maternal health gains, Senesi revealed that child mortality has dropped by 35 percent, reflecting improvements in immunisation coverage, nutrition services, and early childhood interventions.
To further improve access to care, the Ministry is working toward ensuring that health facilities are located within a 3–5 kilometre radius of communities nationwide. He said this initiative is aimed at reducing delays in seeking and receiving medical attention, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
Other achievements highlighted include the construction and rehabilitation of hospitals across the country, the establishment of the Kono Maternal Centre of Excellence to handle complicated obstetric cases, the solarisation of health facilities to ensure uninterrupted power supply, and the strengthening of the national ambulance system to support emergency response.
The Deputy Minister also pointed to the introduction of a Health Information Hub, designed to provide real-time data monitoring to improve planning, accountability, and service delivery across the health sector.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to sustaining the gains and ensuring that quality healthcare becomes more accessible and affordable for all Sierra Leoneans.
