By: Mamajah Jalloh
The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to eliminating preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, declaring that every mother and child deserves a chance to survive and thrive.
He made the declaration during a high-level stakeholder engagement in Bo on Friday, 30 October 2026, as part of the Ministry of Health’s 300 Days of Activism for the Triple Zero Initiative, which has reportedly recorded 31 per cent progress towards its 55 per cent target.
The engagement brought together government officials, health professionals, development partners, civil society organizations, community representatives and members of the media to assess progress, identify challenges and strengthen collective efforts towards achieving the initiative’s objectives.
The Bo meeting followed a similar engagement held in Freetown on Wednesday, with discussions focusing on achievements recorded in Bo and surrounding districts, existing gaps in healthcare delivery, the strengthening of emergency care and referral systems, community mobilization and improved accountability.
The Triple Zero Initiative seeks to accelerate efforts to prevent avoidable deaths among mothers, newborns and children by promoting timely access to quality healthcare, strengthening health systems and encouraging collective responsibility among stakeholders.
As the campaign enters its remaining days, the Ministry has called on communities, healthcare workers, development partners, traditional leaders and the media to intensify their support, amplify life-saving messages and promote timely access to essential health services.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health emphasised that achieving the Triple Zero targets requires sustained collaboration, adding that collective action could turn the progress already recorded into lasting improvements in maternal, newborn and child health.
“Together, we can turn progress into lasting impact and move closer to a future where no mother, newborn or child dies from preventable causes,” the Ministry stated.
The initiative is supported by UNFPA Sierra Leone, the World Health Organization (WHO), Jhpiego Sierra Leone, Save the Children Sierra Leone, UNICEF Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Information and Civic Education.