Post a comment 
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, has officially commissioned over $2.5 million worth of new sexual and reproductive health (SRH) equipment and high-end, life-saving medicines.
The supplies, procured through the National Medical Supplies Agency (NMSA) and the Integrated Health Projects Administration Unit (IHPAU), are funded by a government-supported SRH project. They are a key part of a new strategy to reduce maternal mortality.
A central component of the shipment is over 300,000 vials of heat-stable Carbetocin, a critical drug used to prevent postpartum haemorrhage, or excessive bleeding after birth, which is a leading cause of maternal death.
According to Minister Demby, the investment supports the rollout of a revised “Hubs-and-Spokes” service delivery model. This initiative will initially connect 25 Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) with five secondary and tertiary hospitals across five districts: Bo, Bombali, Kenema, Western Area Urban, and Western Area Rural.
“This initiative aligns with our innovative life-stages approach to delivering quality healthcare and our national goal of reducing maternal mortality to fewer than 300 deaths per 100,000 live births by the end of 2025,” Demby stated. He added that the long-term aim is to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target of fewer than 70 deaths by 2030.
The new model is designed to deliver high-quality Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and Nutrition services. This will be achieved through improved infrastructure, stronger referral systems, digital health integration, and capacity building for health workers.
The $2.5 million strategic investment includes surgical and delivery sets, diagnostic and monitoring devices, sterilization tools, essential obstetric instruments, anaesthetic machines, and portable ultrasound machines.
The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to holistic, patient-centred care and called on all stakeholders to support efforts to strengthen reproductive, maternal, child, and adolescent health nationwide.
