By Musa Aiahson Koroma
Dr. Austin Demby, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, has appealed to Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora to support efforts to strengthen the country’s healthcare system, as he outlined significant progress in reducing maternal and child mortality.
Speaking during the Civic Day Programme in London, Dr. Demby described ongoing reforms driving Sierra Leone’s healthcare transformation and emphasised the need for collective national effort.
He reminded the audience that Sierra Leone once recorded one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with approximately 1,600 deaths per 100,000 live births. Through deliberate investments in health infrastructure, workforce training and community health services, the country has reduced maternal deaths by more than 76 percent.
“We have made tremendous progress, but we are not satisfied. Every preventable maternal or child death is one too many, and that is why we are accelerating our efforts,” Dr. Demby said.
He highlighted the 300 Days of Activism Campaign, launched by President Julius Maada Bio on 1 March 2026, which aims to achieve zero preventable maternal and child deaths. According to the Minister, the first 100 days of implementation have already yielded encouraging results, with maternal deaths dropping by 31 percent and infant mortality declining by 11 percent. Nearly 9,000 malnourished children have also been identified, with close to 5,000 currently receiving treatment.
Dr. Demby explained that Sierra Leone’s healthcare transformation is anchored on four key pillars.
The first pillar focuses on strengthening primary healthcare by expanding services closer to communities, improving infrastructure and equipping facilities with modern tools. He noted that more than 380 health centres are now powered by solar energy, ensuring uninterrupted services, particularly in remote areas.
The second pillar centres on improving referral systems. The national ambulance network has been expanded and integrated with the 117 emergency service, enabling health workers across the country to dispatch GPS-enabled ambulances equipped with oxygen, life-support systems and trained personnel to transport critically ill patients swiftly and safely.
The third pillar involves expanding secondary and tertiary healthcare. New hospitals are under construction in Pujehun, Moyamba and Karene, each with 100-bed capacity, alongside a 300-bed hospital in Kerry Town. Specialized maternal and pediatric centers are also being expanded to meet growing healthcare demands.
The fourth pillar emphasizes health security and emergency preparedness. Drawing lessons from past outbreaks such as Ebola and COVID-19, Sierra Leone has strengthened its disease surveillance systems, deploying trained epidemiologists and health officers nationwide to detect and respond rapidly to public health threats.
The Minister also underscored investments in human capital, noting an increase in medical graduates entering the workforce, alongside the adoption of digital systems to track health outcomes, investigate maternal deaths and support evidence-based decision-making.
“Our health system is becoming more connected, more responsive and more accountable through digital innovation,” he added.
Concluding his address, Dr Demby stressed that national development requires collective responsibility. He urged Sierra Leoneans abroad to contribute their expertise, resources and networks to accelerate progress in the health sector.
“The future of Sierra Leone cannot be built by the government alone. Building a stronger Sierra Leone requires all of us – those at home and those abroad – working together with a shared vision and commitment,” he said.
The Civic Day London Programme provided a platform for dialogue between government officials and Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora, reinforcing the importance of transparency, accountability and citizen’s participation in national development.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wenesday, 24th June 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
