Government, UNFPA Strengthen Strategy to Tackle Preventable Maternal Deaths
Sierra Leone is intensifying efforts to eliminate preventable maternal and child deaths through strengthened implementation of the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) programme.
With support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), key stakeholders recently held a two-day national review of MPDSR implementation to assess progress, identify health system bottlenecks, share best practices and develop targeted strategies towards achieving zero preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
Sierra Leone has made significant progress in maternal health over the past two decades, with the maternal mortality ratio declining by 79 percent, from more than 1,600 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 354 deaths in 2023.
The expansion of the country’s midwifery workforce has contributed significantly to this progress. With UNFPA support since 2010 in policy reform, training and institutional development, the number of midwives has increased from 95 in 2009 to 3,382 in 2026. Skilled birth attendance has also risen from 43 percent in 2013 to more than 90 percent in 2025, increasing access to skilled care during childbirth.
As a country championing the Midwifery Accelerator Initiative, Sierra Leone is working to strengthen midwifery education, regulation and professional practice. UNFPA has supported the Government in developing a National Midwifery Investment Case to guide investments in the training, employment, deployment and retention of midwives.
UNFPA and the Government are also working to expand access to sexual and reproductive health services through investments in health workforce capacity, quality clinical and preventive care, digital health systems and emergency response, including services for survivors of gender-based violence.
The MPDSR review comes as Sierra Leone enters the final 90 days of its 300 Days of Activism campaign, launched in March 2026 following the President’s commitment at the African Union Summit to accelerate efforts to reduce preventable mortality.
The campaign is built around three “Triple Zero” targets: zero preventable maternal deaths, zero preventable child deaths and zero zero-dose children, referring to children who have not received routine vaccinations.
Figures provided indicate that maternal deaths have declined by 31.3 percent during the campaign period, falling from 256 deaths in 2025 to 176 in 2026.
The Government and UNFPA say the progress highlights the potential for Sierra Leone to further reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths and move towards the Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 target of reducing maternal mortality to below 70 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Going forward, the Government and UNFPA will focus on sustaining these gains through stronger health systems, evidence-based planning, improved accountability and a multisectoral strategic roadmap aimed at ensuring equitable healthcare for women, newborns, children and adolescents across Sierra Leone.
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