79% Maternal Mortality Drop, UNFPA Champion Country

Sierra Leone has achieved international recognition for a significant 79% reduction in maternal mortality, a milestone commended by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Diene Keita. 

During a bilateral meeting with Health Minister Dr. Austin Demby at the 34th International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Congress in Lisbon, Portugal, discussed bolstering the partnership between Sierra Leone and the UNFPA to further reduce maternal deaths and enhance midwifery infrastructure.

Dr. Keita lauded the government’s commitment to improving maternal and child healthcare, noting the decline from 1,682 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 354 in 2023. 

She further designated Sierra Leone as one of the UNFPA’s six global Midwifery Accelerator Champion Countries, acknowledging the nation’s strategic advancements in developing a skilled midwifery workforce.

Minister Demby affirmed that while these gains are substantial, the government remains committed to leveraging evidence-based, real-time data to refine policy and optimize health outcomes. This strategy is supported by the maternal and child health situation room and the Pregnancy Registration and Service Tracking (PReSTrack) platform. 

The Minister emphasized that these data initiatives are critical to strengthening accountability, improving service delivery, and ensuring resources are effectively directed toward high-need communities. 

The engagement underscored a mutual commitment to sustained investment in healthcare systems and midwifery to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn deaths.