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Chief Minister David Sengeh has praised the administration of President Julius Maada Bio for what he described as “action backed by evidence” in Sierra Leone’s healthcare sector.
Sengeh said that as of 2026, the country has recorded measurable improvements in its Human Capital Index, Human Development Index, and overall life expectancy compared to levels in 2017 and 2023.
“These data are not theory,” Sengeh said. “They are lives saved.”
According to figures he cited, facility-based maternal deaths have declined by 29 percent, a development he attributed to the establishment of new nursing schools and the formal training of thousands of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), aimed at improving safe delivery practices nationwide.
The Chief Minister also highlighted progress in child health, noting that under-five mortality has dropped by nearly 50 percent, while the cure rate for severe acute malnutrition has reached 99 percent, exceeding global benchmarks.
In the area of infectious diseases, Sengeh reported that full childhood vaccination coverage (DTP3) has reached 90 percent, while HPV vaccination coverage for cervical cancer prevention stands at 99 percent nationwide.
He further disclosed that HIV incidence has been reduced by more than 50 percent, with antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage increasing to 86 percent. In addition, Sierra Leone officially interrupted the transmission of lymphatic filariasis in 2024 and has entered the elimination phase.
To sustain these gains, Sengeh said the government has expanded its medical training and recruitment efforts. Medical student intake has increased from 700 to 1,100, with women accounting for 75 percent of enrolled students.
He added that the government is currently recruiting 3,000 additional healthcare workers and has recently sworn in 86 new doctors to strengthen frontline health services.
These efforts, he said, are supported by US$157.9 million in funding mobilized from the Global Fund and the Pandemic Fund.
“Yes, we have a lot more to do,” Sengeh said. “But together, we are delivering a more equitable and just healthcare system.”
He also expressed gratitude to current and former Ministers of Health, their deputies, and healthcare workers across the country for their contributions to the sector.
