Director Dumbuya Calls for Midwifery Excellence and Maternal Care Vision

Director Dumbuya Calls for Midwifery Excellence and Maternal Care Vision

In an address at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press briefing yesterday, May 5, 2026, Isata Dumbuya, Director of RMNCAH at Partners In Health-Sierra Leone, marked International Midwifery Day with a call for excellence and a bold vision for the future of maternal care.

Speaking to a packed room of journalists and officials, Madam Dumbuya highlighted the transformative role of the Maternal Center of Excellence (MCOE) in Kono, citing it as a blueprint for reducing maternal mortality nationwide.

Madam Dumbuya clarified the strategic relationship between the region's two major healthcare hubs. While the Koidu Government Hospital remains the primary facility for general medical cases, the MCOE has been specifically engineered to handle the complexities of childbirth.

The facility is outfitted with cutting-edge medical technology designed for high risk obstetric care. A specialized team is stationed at the MCOE to provide around-the-clock monitoring for both mothers and newborns.

By separating maternal services from broader hospital cases, the facility ensures that expectant mothers receive the undivided attention of specialists.

Addressing the global context of International Midwifery Day, Madam Dumbuya highlighted that despite considerable progress in maternal safety worldwide, a critical deficit persists. She underscored the immediate global necessity for an estimated one million additional midwives to adequately address fundamental healthcare requirements.

The RMNCAH Director subsequently directed an earnest appeal to Sierra Leone's youth, specifically encouraging young women to view midwifery as a distinguished, vital, and life-saving professional trajectory integral to national development.

In her concluding remarks to current health professionals, she reinforced that the commitment to eradicate maternal mortality demands not only the provision of adequate resources but, more importantly, adherence to the highest standards of professional conduct and an unwavering dedication to every patient under their care.