By: Saidu Jalloh
Seventy years after the establishment of Koindu Hospital, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has officially commissioned the Maternal Centre of Excellence (MCOE) in Kono District a state-of-the-art facility that underscores Sierra Leone’s dedication to improving maternal and child health and advancing human capital development.
During the commissioning ceremony, President Bio emphasized that the true wealth of Kono and Sierra Leone lies not in the precious stones beneath the soil, but in the people who walk upon it “in the strength of our women, and in the future of every newborn child.”
The President described the Maternal Centre of Excellence as a cornerstone of the government’s Human Capital Development Agenda, referring to it as one of the Big Five Game Changers. “A nation’s progress begins with healthy mothers and children,” he stated, adding that “when we invest in their well-being, we invest in the future of education, productivity, and national prosperity.”
President Bio acknowledged that for far too long, many mothers had lost their lives while giving birth. However, he noted that this narrative is changing, as Sierra Leone has reduced maternal deaths by more than 70% over the past two decades, with immunization rates now among the highest in West Africa.
While recognizing the strides made, he stressed that one preventable death is still too many. He described the commissioning of the Maternal Centre of Excellence as “a new beginning.” The facility brings together all stages of maternal and child care
from pregnancy and delivery to newborn and early childhood care under one roof.
The Centre, with 120 beds, advanced surgical and neonatal facilities, and dedicated training spaces for health professionals, is designed to provide safe, respectful, and world-class care in Koidu. Once fully operational in early 2026, it will more than double the capacity of the Koidu Government Hospital and introduce Sierra Leone’s first rural-based neonatal intensive care unit. It will also serve as a national training hub for doctors, nurses, and midwives proving, in President Bio’s words, that “quality healthcare does not depend on geography, but on vision and commitment.”
The President praised the project as a product of “true partnership.” He thanked Partners In Health (PIH) for their steadfast collaboration with the Ministry of Health, recalling that the organization stood by Sierra Leone after the Ebola outbreak and has remained a trusted ally in building a stronger, more resilient health system.
“This project was built not only with bricks and mortar, but with trust trust between the government and its partners, between health workers and communities,” he said. “It reflects what we can achieve when we work together with a shared purpose: to protect life and build the future.”
The President further highlighted the country’s ongoing progress, noting that Sierra Leone’s maternal mortality ratio, which stood at 717 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2019, has now decreased to 354. Guided by the Human Capital Development Agenda, the government aims to reduce this number to below 70 by 2030.
President Bio commended the Ministry of Health for its leadership through the National Steering Committee and for ensuring that the project aligns with national development priorities.
Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, expressed gratitude to President Bio for his visionary leadership and commitment to improving health outcomes. “If you have a nation where everyone is educated, a nation where everyone has good health, and a nation where everyone has food security, you will build a nation and that is the vision of President Bio,” Dr. Demby said.
He recalled that just four months after assuming office, he visited Kono with the late Dr. Paul Farmer, Co-founder of Partners In Health, to break ground for the project. “Today, we have built an edifice that everyone is proud of,” he stated, thanking Partners In Health and Build Health International for their remarkable work in delivering such a high-quality facility.
Dr. Demby also urged the people of Kono to take ownership of the hospital and ensure its maintenance, while praising the local women for their active involvement in the construction process.
Chief Executive Officer of Partners In Health, Dr. Shilla Davis, expressed her delight at the completion of the project and commended the Government of Sierra Leone for creating an enabling environment for development partners. She remarked that PIH was founded to support healthcare systems globally, and seeing the transformative progress in Kono made her “immensely proud.”
First Lady Fatima Bio highlighted the significance of the new facility, noting that pregnant women in Kono will no longer face challenges in delivering their babies. She described the Centre as “a true transformation in the healthcare sector” of the district.
Member of Parliament for Kono District, Emerson Saa Lamina, noted that the new facility is equipped to accommodate 14 women in labor at once and can safely care for up to 20 premature babies without any fatalities. “This is a major step forward for maternal care in Kono,” he remarked.
Paramount Chief of Gbense Chiefdom, Sahr Fengai Kaimachiande, hailed the 120-bed maternal unit as a significant milestone in improving healthcare delivery that benefits all Sierra Leoneans. He expressed deep gratitude to both Partners In Health and the Government of Sierra Leone for their collaborative efforts in making the project a reality.
The commissioning of the Maternal Centre of Excellence represents a historic milestone in Sierra Leone’s journey to strengthen maternal and child healthcare a foundation, as President Bio put it, “for life itself.”
