By Kadiatu Bash Kamara
Freetown, Oct. 6, 2026: Sierra Leone has intensified its campaign to eliminate preventable maternal and child deaths, with health authorities and stakeholders renewing their commitment to achieving the ambitious Triple Zero target through collective action, increased investment and stronger community engagement.
The call was made during a special town hall meeting organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education as part of the 300 Days of Activism for Triple Zero campaign. Held at the Miatta Conference Centre in Freetown on Tuesday, the event brought together government officials, health professionals, development partners and members of the public under the theme: “Achieving Triple Zero Together: Progress, Challenges and Next Steps.”
The programme was hosted by Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah, while Deputy Minister of Health II, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha, delivered the keynote address.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mustapha highlighted the remarkable progress Sierra Leone has made in reducing maternal mortality over the past decade, attributing the gains to increased government investment and sustained support from development partners.
Despite the progress, she cautioned against complacency, stressing that every preventable maternal and child death remains one too many.
“The reduction in maternal deaths shows what can be achieved when government, partners, health workers and communities work together towards a common goal,” she said.
Dr. Mustapha noted that while the country has significantly reduced maternal mortality rates, the focus must now shift from reducing deaths to eliminating preventable deaths altogether.
“If we have been able to reduce maternal deaths by 70 percent, then we must ask ourselves: why should we stop there? We should move from three deaths to zero, because every life matters,” she stated.
She explained that the Triple Zero campaign seeks to transform national attitudes towards maternal and child mortality by moving away from the perception that such deaths are inevitable and instead recognizing them as preventable tragedies that require urgent intervention.
“No woman should die while giving birth, and no child should die from a preventable cause. This is not acceptable, and together we must work towards zero,” she emphasized.
The Deputy Health Minister further called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, healthcare workers, communities, development partners, private sector actors and civil society organizations, noting that achieving Triple Zero requires the active participation of all sectors.
According to her, stakeholders must work collectively to identify weaknesses within the healthcare system, address barriers that prevent women and children from accessing quality healthcare, and implement practical solutions capable of saving lives.
She said the campaign provides an opportunity to examine existing gaps in maternal and child healthcare delivery while accelerating interventions that can sustain and build upon the progress already achieved.
“The aim is not just to reduce the numbers; the aim is to work together so that, by the end of this campaign, we can say that preventable maternal and child deaths are no longer being accepted as inevitable,” Dr. Mustapha said.
The town hall concluded with renewed calls for accountability, increased investment and stronger community participation in efforts to achieve the Triple Zero agenda.
Health authorities and development partners reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that zero preventable maternal deaths, zero preventable newborn deaths and zero preventable child deaths become a reality in Sierra Leone, as the country continues its drive towards a safer and healthier future for women and children.