Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, outlined the country’s progress in reducing maternal and child mortality during a high-level global health meeting held alongside the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
Speaking at the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) Accountability Breakfast on Tuesday, Dr. Demby presented data showing significant improvements. He reported a 20% reduction in maternal mortality between 2020 and 2023, from 443 to 354 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Under-five mortality has also seen a dramatic decline, falling from 264 to 94 deaths per 1,000 live births over the past three decades, he stated.
“These gains are significant and they reflect the government’s commitment to addressing women and children’s wellbeing with urgency and deliberate innovation,” Dr. Demby told attendees at the Harvard Club.
The minister cited specific government initiatives, including the introduction of digital pregnancy trackers and improved neonatal care units, where he said survival rates now exceed 90%.
Despite these advancements, Dr. Demby acknowledged persistent challenges, notably adolescent pregnancy. He noted that one in three young women in Sierra Leone gives birth before the age of 18.
In response, the government is expanding access to reproductive health services, promoting free quality education, and deploying mobile health units, he said.
The meeting, themed “Partnership Power,” focused on accelerating change for women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health. Dr. Demby concluded his remarks with a call for global action, stating, “The world does not need more declarations. It needs delivery—for the mothers still dying, the children still at risk, and the adolescents still unheard.”
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