Freetown, 12th October 2026: The Ministry of Health has announced significant progress in maternal and child health outcomes as Sierra Leone’s 300 Days of Activism for Triple Zero campaign enters its final stages, reporting notable reductions in maternal and child deaths nationwide.
According to the ministry, maternal deaths have declined by 31.4 percent while child deaths have fallen by 12.1 percent since the launch of the campaign. The ministry also disclosed that 9,930 children have been reached through vaccination efforts, representing 110.3 percent of the target set for zero-dose children.
The achievements were highlighted as the campaign reaches 73 percent completion, with health authorities expressing optimism while emphasizing that more work remains to be done.
The Triple Zero initiative, which focuses on reducing preventable maternal deaths, child deaths and missed childhood vaccinations, has been a key pillar of the government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve survival outcomes for mothers and children.
In a statement issued by the ministry, officials stressed that every childbirth should be a moment of celebration rather than tragedy.
“The arrival of a baby should be a day of singing, not mourning,” the ministry stated, noting that the vision continues to drive the efforts of Health Minister Austin Demby and his team to ensure more women survive pregnancy and childbirth.
Deputy Minister of Health II, Jalikatu Mustapha, described the latest figures as encouraging evidence that ongoing interventions are yielding results.
“The curve is bending, but mothers are still dying in childbirth and children are still not surviving to celebrate their first birthdays,” she said. “Our goal is zero, and with the final stretch of the campaign ahead, the work continues.”
Despite the reported gains, health authorities acknowledged that significant challenges remain in achieving the campaign’s ambitious targets. They maintained that sustained investments in maternal healthcare services, immunization programmes and community outreach will be critical to eliminating preventable deaths among mothers and children.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to the Triple Zero agenda, pledging to intensify efforts during the remaining phase of the campaign to ensure that more lives are saved and that vulnerable children receive essential vaccinations.
