Health Minister Demby Highlights Progress and Challenges as Bo Records Decline in Maternal Deaths
Aaron Parker The Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, has highlighted progress and persistent challenges in Bo District’s efforts to reduce maternal deaths, noting that although pregnancy-related deaths have declined significantly in recent months, the district continues to account for a considerable proportion of maternal deaths nationwide.
Dr. Demby made the remarks on Friday, 30th October 2026, during the ongoing 300 Days of Activism for Triple Zero campaign in Bo, where he and the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mustapha Kabba, engaged health workers and community members on measures to prevent avoidable maternal deaths.
The engagement followed similar discussions in the Western Area Urban and Rural, as the Ministry of Health continues to assess progress and address challenges contributing to maternal mortality across the country.
According to figures shared during the engagement, Bo recorded 10 maternal deaths in May 2026, its highest monthly figure of the year. However, the district subsequently recorded three deaths each in June and July, before the number declined to one per month in August, September and October.
Between early July and early October, the district recorded five maternal deaths, compared with 16 during the corresponding period in 2025, representing a 68.8 per cent reduction.
Nationally, maternal deaths have declined by 31.3 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Despite the recent improvement, Dr. Demby noted that Bo still faces significant challenges. The district has recorded 40 maternal deaths so far this year, compared with 36 during the same period in 2025, representing an 11.1 per cent increase.
Bo’s contribution to the country’s overall maternal deaths has also risen from 9.8 per cent to 14.9 per cent, underscoring the need for sustained efforts to address the situation.
“We have to keep improving and change these figures for the sake of our mothers and their babies,” Dr. Demby said.
The Health Minister identified postpartum haemorrhage, uterine rupture, infections and delays in accessing medical attention as some of the major causes of maternal deaths.
He also emphasised the need for healthcare facilities to rebuild public confidence by ensuring timely and respectful treatment, while addressing unofficial payments that discourage women and their families from seeking medical attention.
“We must ask why people lose trust, and then make our services worthy of that trust,” he added.
With less than two months remaining in the 300 Days of Activism for Triple Zero campaign, Dr. Demby stressed the importance of sustaining the progress recorded in Bo and strengthening interventions to prevent further losses.
The Ministry is calling for healthcare facilities to remain operational and adequately prepared around the clock, respond promptly to danger signs, review every maternal death and ensure that women receive dignified care.
Although the reduction in recent months represents progress, the Minister maintained that more work is required to achieve the campaign’s ultimate goal of zero preventable maternal deaths.
At the end of the engagement, Dr. Demby joined nurses, doctors and community members for a group selfie, demonstrating solidarity with frontline health workers and others working to protect the lives of mothers and babies.