By: Saidu Jalloh
Port Loko District has gone 100 consecutive days without recording a maternal death, a milestone Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby has described as a remarkable achievement under the Government’s 300 Days of Activism to End Preventable Maternal and Child Deaths.
Speaking to journalists, Dr. Demby applauded the Port Loko District health team for its commitment to protecting pregnant women and urged other districts across the country to emulate the measures that have contributed to the district’s achievement.
He encouraged health authorities in other districts to strengthen their interventions and work towards achieving similar results during the 300 Days of Activism.
Dr. Demby, who recently returned from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he attended the 76th WHO Regional Committee meeting, said Sierra Leone’s progress in the health sector has attracted the attention of other countries.
He explained that on February 14, 2026, President Julius Maada Bio joined fellow African Heads of State in Ethiopia, where he reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to ensuring that no pregnant woman or child dies from preventable causes.
According to Dr. Demby, the Government is committed to achieving zero preventable maternal and child deaths, while also working to ensure that every child in Sierra Leone receives essential vaccinations as part of efforts to achieve zero-dose status.
The Minister disclosed that the Ministry of Health has developed an application to track activities under the 300 Days of Activism. He said the application would also monitor pregnant women who visit hospitals and health centres, record their needs and help authorities ensure that they receive essential medicines, tests and appropriate medical attention.
Dr. Demby further revealed that Sierra Leone has reduced maternal mortality by 33 percent compared with the previous year, describing the achievement as a major milestone for the country.
“It is a big achievement for Sierra Leone. It takes some countries ten years to achieve this milestone,” Dr. Demby said.
He maintained that the progress demonstrates that Sierra Leone can achieve its health targets when there is a strong commitment to addressing challenges in the sector.
The Minister, however, noted that more work remains to be done, particularly because many maternal deaths are caused by preventable factors that can be addressed through timely and quality healthcare.
Dr. Demby also disclosed that child mortality has been reduced by 16.3 percent, while 99.9 percent of children have been vaccinated. He commended healthcare workers for their dedication and continued efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
He stressed that these achievements could not be sustained without adequate medicines, medical equipment and other essential commodities.
“To complement our efforts, we have procured drugs and equipment worth US$2.5 million to save the lives of children and mothers. This is the third time we have procured drugs and equipment for our hospitals,” Dr. Demby stated.
The Minister also highlighted the Government’s investment in advanced diagnostic equipment, including high-quality ultrasound and CT scan machines, which he said would improve the diagnosis and treatment of pregnant women and children.
He explained that some of these services were previously accessible mainly to people who could afford to travel to Ghana for specialized scans, but are now available in government hospitals in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Demby said one of the machines is available at Connaught Hospital in Freetown, while another is located at Kenema Government Hospital.
He added that the Ministry is training more doctors and specialists to operate the facilities and provide specialized healthcare services. He said the Government is also investing in medical training at the university level to strengthen the country’s health workforce.
On strengthening national health institutions, Dr. Demby revealed that funds have been secured for the construction of a pharmaceutical-grade warehouse at Kerry Town.
He said the Government would also continue to support the National Medical Supplies Agency (NMSA) to strengthen the storage and distribution of essential medicines and medical supplies across the country.
The Minister urged healthcare workers to use medicines and medical equipment strictly for their intended purposes and warned against using public health commodities for personal financial gain.
He stressed that the medicines and equipment are specifically intended to save the lives of pregnant women and children.
Dr. Demby further emphasized that pregnant women should never be denied or delayed essential healthcare because of their inability to pay.
He said the Government wants the interventions being implemented under the 300 Days of Activism to become a permanent part of Sierra Leone’s healthcare culture even after the initiative ends.
The Minister explained that mechanisms are being put in place to continuously track pregnant women who visit hospitals and health centres, monitor the care they receive and establish the causes of maternal deaths.
He added that the Government is working towards connecting health facilities through satellite technology, which would allow health authorities to monitor activities in hospitals and health centres across the country, including identifying gaps in healthcare delivery.
Dr. Demby maintained that the ultimate objective is to ensure that preventable maternal and child deaths are significantly reduced and eventually eliminated across Sierra Leone.