By George M.O. Williams
The United Nations has reported significant progress in Sierra Leone’s health sector, with major strides made in child nutrition, maternal health, and disease prevention, according to its 2025 Mid-Year Report.
A total of 28,704 children aged 6 to 24 months received treatment for Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), more than doubling the number reached during the same period in 2024. The report attributes this achievement to the uninterrupted availability of therapeutic supplies and expanded screening coverage, which rose from 11 percent to 17 percent.
In maternal health, Sierra Leone recorded a dramatic decline in maternal mortality, with the ratio dropping from 443 to 354 per 100,000 live births between 2020 and 2023, according to the UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group. The report notes that 99.4 percent of childbirths occurred in health facilities, supported by skilled birth attendants, and 94 percent of mothers received postnatal care within 24 hours.
Efforts to institutionalize obstetric fistula management saw the training of 80 community health workers in prevention, case identification, and referral. These efforts led to 10 successful fistula repair surgeries at Bo Government Hospital.
The UN also supported the capacity building of 112 health workers in life-saving interventions, including postpartum hemorrhage management, respectful maternity care, and emergency obstetric and newborn care. Additionally, 15 health facilities across six districts were equipped and 95 frontline health workers trained to enhance maternal and newborn services.
In its push toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the UN facilitated the establishment of cervical cancer screening and treatment centers in 13 out of 16 districts, with 144 women screened at Kenema Government Hospital. The initiative aims to achieve full national coverage by year-end, improving access to critical services for women in underserved areas.
To bolster pharmaceutical quality assurance, the UN upgraded equipment worth $542,000 to detect substandard and falsified medicines. A feasibility study was also conducted for a proposed New Pharma-grade Warehouse (NPW) for the Ministry of Health, designed to meet international standards for medical storage and distribution.
The report underscores the UN’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Sierra Leone’s health systems and improving outcomes for vulnerable populations.