By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Sierra Leone has on December 22, 2025 signed a landmark five-year health cooperation agreement with the United States, unlocking more than $129 million in support to strengthen health infrastructure, combat infectious diseases, and consolidate recent gains in reducing maternal and child mortality.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh described the agreement as a major boost to the country’s public health agenda, noting that the resources will have a transformative impact over the next half-decade. He said the funding will significantly improve health facilities nationwide, enhance disease surveillance and response, and accelerate progress in safeguarding the lives of women, children, and adolescents.
Speaking in his capacity as Chair for health sector coordination and decentralization, the Vice President said he is actively supporting government initiatives to increase health spending and strengthen primary health care in line with Sierra Leone’s newly endorsed health compact. “These resources provided by the U.S. government are crucial to our efforts to improve healthcare services, particularly for women, children, and adolescents,” he said, adding that the partnership reflects strong bilateral collaboration across multiple sectors.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), covering the period 2026–2030, was signed in Freetown by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health and the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, making Sierra Leone one of a select group of African countries to enter into such a comprehensive global health partnership with Washington.
Minister of Health Austin Demby welcomed the agreement, calling it a “massive boost” that will deliver measurable and sustainable outcomes. He said the partnership aligns with national priorities to improve service delivery at community level, expand access to essential medicines and diagnostics, and strengthen the health workforce.
Under the agreement, both governments have set ambitious targets to sharply reduce maternal and child mortality and curb deaths from HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and measles. Specific goals include achieving near-universal HIV testing and treatment coverage, improving routine immunization, and enhancing the country’s capacity to detect and respond to disease outbreaks within seven days—a critical benchmark for epidemic preparedness.
The Vice President also highlighted the broader context of U.S.–Sierra Leone cooperation, citing ongoing collaboration in areas such as energy and infrastructure, including a $480 million Millennium Challenge Corporation–funded compact. He expressed appreciation to the U.S. Embassy Sierra Leone for its continued support and to Minister Demby for leading the technical work that culminated in the signing.
Health sector stakeholders say the new funding will accelerate decentralization reforms by channeling resources closer to communities, improving primary care facilities, and strengthening data systems for accountability and results. With sustained implementation, officials believe the agreement will mark a decisive step toward resilient, people-centered healthcare and improved health outcomes nationwide.
