By: Mohamed Sahr
mohamedsahrpro@gmail.com
For the first time since the launch of the Special Care Baby Units (SCBU) initiative in 2017, the Ministry of Health has announced a historic achievement: a 94% survival rate for newborns. This milestone was revealed at a press conference on Monday, 11th August 2025, held at the Youyi Building in Freetown.
Dr. Austin Demby, the Minister of Health, emphasized that nearly 90-94% of newborns are now surviving across various healthcare facilities in Sierra Leone. This success is primarily attributed to the Special Care Baby Units initiative and the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) program.
He noted that both initiatives have made a significant impact on the healthcare system, with many mothers and patients traveling from other West African countries to seek treatment in Sierra Leone. “Over half of all Special Care Baby Units are now meeting or exceeding the national survival rate average of 90%,” Dr. Demby added.
The Minister further explained that the quality of care for sick and premature newborns has greatly improved, allowing the country to exceed its national targets by a wide margin. This success has been driven by substantial investments in clinical care, training, equipment, data management, and newborn-focused innovations, including the Kangaroo Mother Care initiative.
According to the latest report from the Ministry of Health, covering January to June 2025, several government health facilities across the country have shown significant improvements. Notable facilities include Kambia 98% survival rate, Koidu 95%, Bonthe 94%, Kabala 94%, Kailahun 94%, Bo 93%, Moyamba 93%, Kingharman 93%, Kenema 92%, Jui 91%, National Average 90%, Matru UBC 89%, Port Loko 88%, Ola During 87%, Magburaka86%, Makeni 85%. Pujehun 84% and JMB Pediatric Centre of Excellence 74%.
Dr. Demby highlighted the improvement in Kangaroo Mother Care, noting that 199 preterm or low-birth-weight babies received KMC up from just 45% prior to the training. The survival rate among babies who received KMC reached an impressive 98%, showcasing its life-saving potential.
The success of KMC is particularly evident at several hospitals, with Bo Hospital leading the way with 75 admissions, followed by Kenema (42), Ola During Children’s Hospital (31), JMB Centre of Excellence (22), Kono (9), and Makeni (9). This underscores the need for further expansion of the Kangaroo Mother Care program to ensure more babies can benefit.
In the same conference, Dr. Demby addressed concerns about Sierra Leone’s partnership with GAVI, particularly regarding co-financing and misinformation about potential vaccine shortages. He reassured the public that Sierra Leone has consistently maintained a vaccine coverage rate of over 90% for the past five years and has earned significant praise from GAVI and UNICEF for its efforts.
Although the Ministry of Health had received a letter from GAVI reminding the country of its co-financing obligations, Dr. Demby confirmed that the Ministry of Finance has approved a payment of $823,000 to GAVI as a “top life-saving priority.” He assured that the payment would be processed in the coming days.