By Alusine Sesay
FREETOWN, September 17, 2026: President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has received the Day 200 Report of Sierra Leone’s 300 Days of Activism for Triple Zero campaign, a flagship national initiative aimed at eliminating preventable maternal and child deaths and ensuring that no child remains unvaccinated.
Receiving the report on Thursday, President Bio commended the progress made under the campaign and called on stakeholders to sustain the momentum during the final phase of implementation.
“The report clearly demonstrates significant progress. As we approach the final 100 days of the campaign, I commend the Ministry of Health, health workers, communities, and partners for their achievements thus far. I call on them to stay committed and maintain these gains,” the President stated in a Facebook post.
The campaign has recorded measurable improvements nearly 200 days into its implementation, with the Ministry of Health reporting significant reductions in maternal and child mortality, alongside expanded immunization coverage across the country.
According to the ministry, maternal deaths have declined by 31.1 percent, while child deaths have dropped by 14.4 percent compared to the same period last year. The ministry also reported that nearly 100 percent of identified zero-dose children have now received vaccinations.
Health officials attributed the achievements to weekly accountability reviews across all 16 districts, round-the-clock monitoring of child deaths, and the commitment of frontline healthcare workers nationwide.
Minister of Health Dr. Austin Demby described the results as evidence that Sierra Leone’s health system is delivering on President Bio’s vision for improved healthcare outcomes.
“The gains are real, now we must protect them. This campaign is about ensuring no mother dies giving life, no child dies from preventable causes, and no child is left unvaccinated. Our frontline workers are the heroes of this progress, and we are committed to sustaining these results through 2028,” Dr. Demby said.
He disclosed that Sierra Leone will present the campaign’s achievements at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) from September 20 to 22, seeking to strengthen partnerships and secure financing to sustain the initiative over the long term.
Launched in 2026, the Triple Zero campaign is built around three key objectives: eliminating preventable maternal deaths, ending preventable child deaths, and ensuring that every child receives routine immunization.
The initiative builds on more than two decades of progress in reducing maternal and child mortality and is supported by key health sector reforms, including free healthcare services for pregnant women and children under five, the expansion of emergency response mechanisms, and the deployment of solar-powered hospitals.
The campaign is further strengthened by real-time digital monitoring systems, district-level accountability reviews, and partnerships with international health organizations, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organization.
Stakeholders say the encouraging results recorded at the halfway stage of the campaign provide a strong foundation for achieving its ambitious targets and advancing Sierra Leone’s efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes nationwide.