UNICEF, UK Boost Makeni Neonatal Care with £32,000 Medical Equipment
Alusine Ahmed Kargbo The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), with support from the United Kingdom Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), has delivered medical equipment valued at approximately £32,000 to restore neonatal services at Makeni Regional Hospital following a fire that destroyed its Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).
The equipment was handed over on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the Directorate of Reproductive and Child Health in Freetown. The intervention is aimed at reinstating critical care services for premature, low-birthweight and severely ill newborns in Sierra Leone’s Northern Region.
UNICEF described the support as part of its continued efforts to strengthen newborn healthcare systems and expand access to lifesaving services. Speaking at the ceremony, UNICEF Representative Mariko Kagoshima said the intervention marks a significant step toward restoring essential care and ensuring that families can once again access specialized treatment closer to their communities.
She noted that the UK-supported initiative represents the 17th Special Care Baby Unit established under the UNICEF-UK partnership, reflecting sustained investment in improving neonatal care across the country. According to Kagoshima, the number of such facilities has increased from four in 2017 to 17 across 14 districts, alongside a sharp rise in admissions and improved survival rates among newborns.
Despite these gains, she emphasized that the availability of equipment alone is not sufficient to save lives. She highlighted the need for trained healthcare workers, reliable oxygen and power supply, essential medicines, proper maintenance systems and strong clinical leadership to ensure effective service delivery.
UNICEF reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Health and partners to ensure the rapid deployment and optimal use of the equipment, with the goal of restoring full operations at the Makeni SCBU as quickly as possible.
Representing the United Kingdom Government, Development Director at the British High Commission, Alex Maclean, said the donation forms part of broader UK support to strengthen Sierra Leone’s healthcare system. He noted that the partnership extends beyond equipment provision to include training for nurses and other healthcare workers to improve the quality of neonatal care.
The Makeni SCBU had been a critical facility for the treatment of premature and severely ill newborns before it was destroyed by fire, creating a significant gap in specialized care services in the region. Following an assessment, replacement equipment was procured through UK support to restore the unit’s capacity.
Receiving the equipment on behalf of the government, Deputy Minister of Health I, Dr. Charles Senesie, described the intervention as timely and aligned with national efforts to improve newborn health outcomes and reduce child mortality. He said the Ministry of Health continues to implement targeted programmes, including the government’s 300-Day Programme, to accelerate improvements in maternal and child health services.
Dr. Senesie emphasized that sustained investment in newborn and child healthcare is essential for saving lives and strengthening human capital development, noting that improving early-life survival contributes directly to national growth and development.