By: Mohamed J. Bangura
Sierra Leone has recorded a 31.3 percent reduction in maternal deaths and an 11.7 percent decline in child deaths as the Government’s 300 Days of Activism campaign reaches its 200-day milestone.
The progress was disclosed by Deputy Minister of Health II, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha, during an interview with Truth Media on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, as the Ministry of Health continues its efforts to achieve the country’s “Triple Zero” targets.
Launched in March 2026, the campaign focuses on three key goals: zero preventable maternal deaths, zero preventable child deaths and zero-dose children who have not received routine vaccinations.
Dr. Mustapha said the reduction in maternal and child deaths represents significant progress compared with the same period last year.
She said the campaign has so far contributed to an estimated 399 maternal and child deaths being averted, describing the figures as evidence of the importance of sustained interventions across the health sector.
According to the Day 200 report, maternal deaths declined by 31.3 percent, while hospital child deaths fell by 11.7 percent during the period under review. The campaign has also exceeded its initial target for identifying zero-dose children, reaching approximately 102 percent of the target.
Dr. Mustapha said the campaign was driven by a deliberate decision to review every maternal and child death to identify the causes and prevent similar deaths in the future.
She said President Julius Maada Bio had given the health authorities a clear mandate to focus strongly on women and children, while Health Minister Dr Austin Demby advocated a more radical approach to preventing avoidable deaths.
According to Dr. Mustapha, the approach requires every maternal or child death to raise questions about what went wrong and what could be done to prevent another family from experiencing a similar loss.
She said the Ministry is using data and regular reviews to identify the causes of deaths and address gaps within the health system.
The campaign has also been supported by interventions aimed at improving access to essential medicines, reproductive health commodities, emergency care and stronger monitoring of health outcomes.
The Ministry recently announced a US$2 million supply of essential medicines and reproductive health commodities to address critical gaps affecting maternal and child healthcare.
Dr. Mustapha cautioned that the progress recorded during the first 200 days should not lead to complacency, noting that another 100 days remain in the campaign.
She stressed the need to sustain the gains, identify remaining gaps and continue strengthening the health system to further reduce preventable deaths.