By Staff Writer
Sierra Leone has gained international recognition in public health after 2YoungLives, a community-based mentoring programme supporting pregnant adolescents and young mothers, was honoured at the 18th World Congress on Public Health (WCPH) in Cape Town, South Africa.
The initiative, implemented by Lifeline Nehemiah Projects (LNP) in partnership with King’s College London, was named one of three winners of the inaugural Lancet Elsevier Foundation Evidence to Impact Award, a prestigious recognition for research teams that successfully translate evidence into measurable improvements in people’s lives.
The award was presented during the World Congress on Public Health, held from 6 to 9 September 2026 under the theme, “Health without Borders: Equity, Inclusion and Sustainability.” The event brought together more than 2,000 public health professionals, researchers and policymakers from across the globe.
Speaking on the achievement, Co-Founder of Lifeline Nehemiah Projects, Dr. Mangenda Kamara, highlighted the challenges facing maternal health in Sierra Leone, noting that adolescent girls remain among the most vulnerable groups.
She explained that the 2YoungLives initiative was established in 2017 in the aftermath of the Ebola outbreak, beginning with three mentors and three adolescent girls in Kuntorloh, East Freetown.
According to Dr. Kamara, the programme pairs pregnant girls under the age of 18 with trained community mentors who provide emotional, social and practical support from pregnancy until one year after childbirth.
“The mentors help the girls access antenatal services, deliver safely at health facilities, reconnect with their families, return to school or establish small businesses,” she said.
Dr. Kamara also reflected on challenges faced by the organisation, including legal disputes and allegations of intimidation that she said tested the resilience of the institution.
She noted, however, that despite those challenges, the organisation remained focused on supporting adolescent mothers and their babies, with mentors, coordinators, staff and international partners ensuring continuity of services.
“The dismissal and acquittal of criminal proceedings against our colleagues, Prince Tommy Williams and Mohamed Turay on 18 September 2026 for lack of evidence is a welcome relief,” she said, adding that other issues relating to a land dispute remain separate from the criminal case.
The co-founder used the occasion to call on the Government of Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Health, development partners and the private sector to support the expansion of the programme across all 16 districts of the country.
She urged authorities to integrate community-based mentoring into existing maternal and adolescent health services while strengthening referral systems and ensuring sustainable financing.
Dr. Kamara further appealed for multi-year donor support to fund mentor training, supervision, safeguarding and programme evaluation, while encouraging private sector actors to provide support for transportation, communication, education bursaries, vocational training and small business grants for beneficiaries.
“We must preserve what makes 2YoungLives effective: trusted local women, community participation and attention to each girl’s circumstances. Let us turn this recognition into lasting investment so that more girls and babies can survive and thrive,” she said.
On behalf of the Board, management and staff of Lifeline Nehemiah Projects, Dr. Kamara expressed gratitude to partners including King’s College London, the NIHR-funded CRIBS Global Health Research Group, the Ministry of Health, donors and community mentors.
She dedicated the award to the 673 adolescent mothers who have participated in the programme since its inception.
Evidence published in The Lancet in 2025 from a pilot cluster-randomised trial involving 673 adolescent girls in 12 communities across five districts demonstrated the programme’s impact. Findings showed a 48 percent reduction in maternal and perinatal deaths, a 32 percent increase in facility-based deliveries, and reported that one baby’s life is saved for every 18 girls mentored.
The programme has also recorded zero maternal deaths among more than 650 girls supported since its establishment, according to project data.
The award-winning team comprises Dr. Cristina Fernandez Turienzo, Prof. Jane Sandall, Dr. Mangenda Kamara, Lucy November and Prince Tommy Williams. The team previously received the FUDEN Nursing in Development Award in Madrid for its innovative approach to improving maternal and adolescent health outcomes.
Funded by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) through the CRIBS Global Health Research Group, the project is now seeking nationwide expansion to reach thousands more vulnerable adolescent mothers affected by teenage pregnancy, stigma and social exclusion.
The recognition culminated in an awards dinner hosted by the Lancet and the Elsevier Foundation in honour of the winning teams, marking another significant milestone for Sierra Leone’s growing contribution to global public health innovation.