Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, has called for greater accountability and the urgent implementation of practical solutions following reports of preventable maternal and child deaths recorded in health facilities across Sierra Leone.
Dr. Austin Demby made the call on Friday, 14 August 2026, while attending the Ministry of Health’s weekly Maternal and Child Death Emergency Meeting, commonly known as MaCDEM. The meeting reviews maternal and child mortality cases reported across the country and examines the circumstances surrounding each death.
Doctors, District Health Management Teams, hospital administrators and other healthcare professionals use the weekly meeting to present comprehensive data on fatalities recorded during the previous week. They also explain the factors that contributed to the deaths, assess whether the cases could have been prevented and identify measures required to avoid similar incidents.
Friday’s meeting was described as tense and sombre as participants presented details of maternal and child deaths considered preventable. Dr. Austin Demby expressed frustration over some of the cases and reminded healthcare workers of their responsibility to ensure that pregnant women and children do not die in health facilities from avoidable causes.
“This is not a time for excuses and explanations but a time for accountability and implementation of solutions,” Dr. Austin Demby declared.
His intervention reinforced the Government’s position that healthcare institutions and professionals must move beyond identifying problems and take decisive action to address weaknesses in service delivery.
The Minister’s participation in the meeting also served as an urgent reminder of the work still required to achieve Sierra Leone’s national “Triple-Zero” targets: zero preventable maternal deaths, zero preventable child deaths and zero zero-dose children.
The country is currently in Week 32 of the 300 Days of Activism campaign, an initiative designed to accelerate progress towards those targets through stronger monitoring, targeted investment, improved healthcare delivery and increased accountability.
Available data indicate that the campaign has recorded significant progress, particularly in efforts to vaccinate children who had previously received no routine immunization.
Out of an estimated 9,006 zero-dose children identified nationwide, approximately 8,037 have reportedly been vaccinated. This represents 89.2 per cent of the national target and highlights the impact of coordinated interventions backed by sustained investment and political commitment.
Progress has also been recorded in reducing mortality. Maternal deaths have reportedly declined by 30 per cent, while child deaths have fallen by 14.4 per cent.
Despite those improvements, the Ministry acknowledged that every preventable death remains a serious concern. The figures demonstrate that intensified national interventions can produce results, but they also underline the need for healthcare workers and institutions to maintain momentum and address existing gaps.
Dr. Austin Demby urged all health-sector stakeholders to translate lessons from the MaCDEM reviews into immediate corrective action. He stressed that sustained accountability, consistent monitoring and the implementation of practical solutions would be essential to reduce maternal and child mortality further.
The Ministry of Health maintains that continued national commitment, targeted investment and stronger performance across health facilities can move Sierra Leone closer to achieving its Triple-Zero objectives.
