By: Aminata Sesay
A renewed national effort to protect mothers and safeguard women’s health is gaining momentum as the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, calls for stronger cross-sector collaboration to eliminate preventable maternal deaths in Sierra Leone.
Speaking at a high-level maternal health engagement, Dr. Mahoi described the initiative as a defining national responsibility one that extends beyond the healthcare sector and reflects the country’s moral and developmental priorities. She stressed that maternal survival must be treated as a shared obligation among government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, and local communities.
While acknowledging improvements in maternal and child health indicators over the past decade, the Minister cautioned that too many women still face life-threatening complications during pregnancy and childbirth. She emphasized that improved healthcare facilities alone are not enough, highlighting the need for stronger accountability systems, sustained political will, and increased community awareness.
Dr. Mahoi linked the renewed campaign to President Julius Maada Bio’s broader call for collective national action, underscoring that protecting mothers is central to building resilient families and achieving sustainable development.
She also reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitments under global and regional frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and Goal 5 (Gender Equality) as well as the Maputo Protocol and the CEDAW, both of which recognize maternal health and reproductive rights as fundamental human rights.
At the national level, she noted that the initiative aligns with the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act, describing the campaign as a practical step toward translating legal commitments into life-saving outcomes.
Concluding her address, Dr. Mahoi urged stakeholders to treat maternal health not as a routine policy issue but as a solemn promise to the nation one that demands urgency, unity, and unwavering commitment to ensure that no woman dies while giving life.