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Health and Sanitation Minister Dr Austin Demby has called on healthcare workers across Sierra Leone to take greater responsibility for preventing maternal and child deaths, warning that the country must move from explanations to concrete action.
Dr Demby delivered the message on August 14, 2026, during the Ministry of Health’s weekly Maternal and Child Death Emergency Meeting (MaCDEM), where doctors, district health management teams, hospital administrators and other healthcare providers reviewed maternal and child deaths recorded during the week.
“This is not a time for excuses and explanations, but a time for accountability and implementation of solutions,” the Minister told healthcare workers.
The meeting was described as tense and sombre as the Minister responded to reports of cases in which maternal and child deaths were considered potentially preventable. The discussions focused on the circumstances surrounding the deaths, contributing factors and measures that could have been taken to prevent the fatalities.
Dr Demby’s intervention comes as Sierra Leone moves through Week 32 of the government’s 300 Days of Activism, an initiative focused on accelerating progress towards three national targets: Zero Preventable Maternal Deaths, Zero Preventable Child Deaths and Zero Zero-Dose Children.
Available programme data indicate progress towards the targets. Of an estimated 9,006 zero-dose children identified nationwide, approximately 8,037 have been vaccinated, representing 89.2 per cent of the target.
Maternal deaths have reportedly declined by 30 per cent, while child deaths have fallen by 14.4 per cent. The figures point to progress while highlighting the need for sustained intervention to prevent avoidable deaths.
The MaCDEM meetings provide a regular platform for health officials to examine mortality data, identify contributing factors and determine what interventions can be implemented to prevent similar cases.
The Minister’s call for accountability builds on the government’s broader efforts to improve maternal and child healthcare.
In 2024, Dr Demby introduced a national pilot programme providing free healthcare for pregnant women, mothers and children under five in five districts. During a parliamentary session, he stated that “no woman should pay to give birth in this country,” while emphasising the government’s goal of expanding access to quality healthcare.
The government’s current focus on maternal and child mortality places particular emphasis on identifying preventable causes and ensuring that health facilities respond effectively to identified gaps.
Sierra Leone’s 300 Days of Activism has received support from international health and development partners, including the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and Partners In Health Sierra Leone.
President Julius Maada Bio launched the 300 Days of Activism campaign with the World Health Organisation in July 2025 as part of efforts to accelerate the reduction of maternal and child deaths.
As the campaign progresses, Dr Demby’s message at the latest MaCDEM meeting reinforces the government’s expectation that healthcare providers translate data and lessons from mortality reviews into practical interventions that save lives.
