Sierra Leone News

Tackling maternal mortality is among the most critical priorities for Sierra Leone. Today, much is being done to improve the quality of healthcare before, during and after women give birth.

Taking data from 2015, it is estimated that every day, the equivalent of eight women lose their lives during pregnancy and childbirth. This is an immense tragedy for families, for communities, and for the nation as a whole.

On Friday 24th February, Sierra Leone launched its first National Immunisation Days for 2017, which aim to protect all children less than 5 years of age against polio. Routine vaccinations will also be done for children aged 0-23 months.

Polio is a devastating virus, for which there is no cure. It invades the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis in a matter of hours. It can be prevented through immunization. Given multiple times, the polio vaccine almost always protects a child for life.

FREETOWN, 13 January 2017 --- One of the two sites used in the second phase of the Sierra Leone Ebola Virus Persistence Study was handed over to the Lungi Government Hospital on Thursday 12 January after the closure of the study.  The facility and equipment which included three large tents, office materials, hygiene materials and other supplies will be repurposed for antenatal care and services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

New data released today by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and WHO shows that community engagement efforts reached more than 20,950 households over seven months in 2016, approximately 117,000* people,  through community meetings, events, door to door visits and vibrant peer support groups.

Sierra Leone has just recently wrapped up its final Maternal and Child Health Week campaign for 2016, known locally as 'Mami en Pekin Welbodi Week', which targeted 95 percent children under five with lifesaving vaccines. Earlier campaign rounds achieved up to 97 percent coverage to protect children against polio, measles and other major childhood diseases. 

Sierra Leone has one of the highest burdens of malaria in the world. The country's entire population is at risk of the disease and it is one of Sierra Leone’s leading causes of death and illness. Our photo essay explores progress in reducing malaria cases and impacts in the West African country.

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE, 13 December 2016 - The World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Malaria Report 2016 reveals that Sierra Leone has one of the world’s highest burdens of malaria cases, but has experienced significant progress in reducing malaria deaths and transmission.

Mental health service delivery remains challenging in Sierra Leone and critical gaps in staffing mean thousands are unable to access the services they need. Steps are now being taken to increase psychosocial support available within communities and health facilities.
With a population of 7,000,000 people, Sierra Leone only has two psychiatrists, two Clinical Psychologists, and 19 Mental Health Nurses. Just four nurses have specialized in Child and Adolescent mental health.

Flooding from torrential rainfall is the most common form of natural disaster in Sierra Leone and regularly causes significant  damage and harms people's health, especially in poor communities and settlements. A new national flood emergency and response plan is now under development to help ensure the country is better prepared to prevent and manage floods.

Five days of Immunization Activities to deliver integrated maternal and child health services to all pregnant women and children less than five years ended today in Sierra Leone. The campaign known as Maternal and Child Health Week is undertaken twice annually by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to improve access and the quality of maternal and child health services in Sierra Leone.