Health Ministry Turns to Real-Time Data to Tackle Maternal, Child Deaths
Sierra Leone is increasingly using real-time health data to investigate maternal and child deaths as they occur, as the Ministry of Health seeks to turn individual cases into immediate action under its Triple Zero campaign.
Deputy Minister of Health II, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha, said the Ministry now reviews maternal and child deaths weekly to identify contributing factors, determine whether deaths could have been prevented and address gaps in healthcare delivery.
Speaking at a town hall marking 300 Days of Activism for Triple Zero, Dr. Mustapha said each reported death is investigated, with findings entered into a monitoring dashboard for district and national health teams to follow up on identified gaps and corrective measures.
She said the approach is designed to address the limitations of relying mainly on periodic surveys, such as the Demographic and Health Survey, which is conducted on a five-year cycle and may not provide information quickly enough to respond to emerging health challenges.
The Triple Zero campaign targets three outcomes: eliminating preventable maternal deaths, eliminating preventable child deaths and reaching zero children who have not received routine vaccinations.
According to UNFPA, maternal deaths declined by 31.3 percent during the campaign period, from 256 in 2025 to 176 in 2026. The Ministry has also reported a reduction in child deaths, with figures previously attributed to the Ministry indicating an 11.7 percent decline by Day 200.
The real-time monitoring approach is part of broader efforts to strengthen the country’s health information system. In January, the Ministry introduced a National Health Information Hub to provide faster access to data on pregnancies, births, vaccinations and deaths.
Dr. Mustapha said the campaign requires coordinated action involving government institutions, health workers, communities, development partners and the private sector to address factors affecting maternal and child survival and vaccination coverage.
UNFPA has emphasized that sustaining the progress will require stronger health systems, accountability and continued multisectoral collaboration to achieve the goal of eliminating preventable maternal and child deaths.