The Chief’s Diary: Accelerating toward vision triple zero – zero preventable maternal death, zero preventable child death and zero zero-dose vaccinated children in Sierra Leone
In Miatta Civic Center today, we launched a detailed plan to implement President Bio’s ambitious vision of ending preventable maternal and child death in Sierra Leone. Minister of Health, Austin Demby and his team, presented a roadmap for how we will hit our zero targets in 300 days (December 26th, 2026) and I know that together #WeWillDeliver.
Listen, we have some ways to go, but over the past 7 years, I know that together #WeAreDelivering. Sierra Leone has the quickest and sharpest fall in maternal mortality in the world but 340/100,000 mothers dying is still too much. In Africa, our over 90% child immunization rate is among the highest in the sub region but we want to be above 95%. We have improved child survival by 35% but any baby dying is too much! We have added thousands of healthcare workers and are training dozens of experts. We have opened centers of excellence for maternal and child care. We have solarized our major referral healthcare centers. These all add to the reasons why in the recent World Bank Human Capital Index, Sierra Leone continues to do better each year. https://humancapital.worldbank.org/en/indicator/WB_HCP_HCI
This isn’t just going to happen because President Bio set the vision, Ministry of Health developed a plan and I launched the campaign. This is about justice for all (radical inclusion- toward a more just society) and it requires each and everyone of us: government, partners, NGOs, community stakeholders and families. We must all take committed actions that ensure no mother, no child and no baby should die because of system, institutional or human failure. If we work towards this goal, together #WeWillDeliver! Well done Minister Demby. Well done Ministry of Health. Well done Sierra Leone.