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The Ministry of Health, with funding support from the Government of Sierra Leone, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), has completed a two-day training for health workers in Pujehun District on the introduction and use of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook.
The training, organised through the Pujehun District Health Management Team (DHMT), was held at the DHMT Hall in Pujehun Town. It brought together health workers from seventy-seven Peripheral Health Units and DHMT officials, aiming to strengthen service delivery for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children under five years of age.
The Maternal and Child Health Handbook is designed to replace the existing Antenatal Care (ANC) and Under-Five cards, creating a single, comprehensive record for maternal and child health services.
Welcoming participants, the Medical Superintendent of Pujehun Government Hospital, Dr. Momoh Nyallay, described the handbook as a vital tool for improving maternal and child health outcomes. He said the handbook would support pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children under five by ensuring continuity of care from pregnancy through early childhood.
Dr. Nyallay encouraged health workers to take the training seriously and use the handbook effectively. He noted that countries such as Japan have used similar systems for more than eighty years and now record some of the lowest maternal mortality rates globally.
In an interview with Radio Wanjei, Sister Mary Fullah, a consultant from the Ministry of Health, explained that the handbook is intended to link maternal and child health services using a life-course approach, covering care from pregnancy until a child’s fifth birthday. She said it would improve communication between health workers and clients, strengthen referral systems, and promote a continuum of care.
Sister Fullah added that the handbook will enhance early detection of risks, encourage timely interventions, improve the efficiency of health workers, and increase knowledge among mothers, fathers, and families. She appealed to district stakeholders, particularly the Pujehun District Council, to support the DHMT with locally generated revenue to ensure adequate printing and distribution of the handbook to prevent shortages at health facilities.
Also speaking at the training, the District Health Sister One of Pujehun District, Sister Janet Sanccoh, expressed appreciation to the Government of Sierra Leone, JICA, and GAVI for supporting the initiative. She said she is optimistic that the new system will significantly reduce maternal mortality and improve overall maternal and child health outcomes in the district.
The training marks a major step toward strengthening maternal and child health services in Pujehun District, as health workers prepare to implement the handbook as a key tool for delivering quality, continuous, and integrated care to mothers and children.
