By Mariama Bundu
The Government of Sierra Leone has renewed its commitment to ending preventable maternal and child deaths as the Ministry of Information and Civic Education convened a special town hall meeting under the 300 Days of Activism for Triple Zero campaign.
The meeting, held on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, at the Miatta Civic Centre in Freetown, brought together stakeholders to assess progress, identify challenges and explore practical measures to achieve zero preventable maternal deaths, zero preventable newborn deaths and zero preventable child deaths.
Held under the theme “Achieving Triple Zero Together: Progress, Challenges and Next Steps,” the engagement emphasized the need for sustained government commitment, stronger partnerships and collective action to protect the lives of women and children across the country.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha highlighted the progress Sierra Leone has made in reducing maternal mortality over the past decade, attributing the improvements to increased government investment and support from development partners.
However, she cautioned that the gains recorded should not lead to complacency, stressing that every preventable death represents a life that could have been saved through timely and quality healthcare.
Dr. Mustapha said the country’s achievements demonstrate the importance of collaboration among government institutions, healthcare workers, development partners and local communities. She maintained that the focus must now shift from reducing maternal and child deaths to eliminating preventable deaths altogether.
“If we have been able to reduce maternal deaths by 70 percent, then we must ask ourselves: why should we stop there? We should move from three deaths to zero, because every life matters,” she stated.
The Deputy Minister explained that the Triple Zero campaign seeks to change public attitudes towards maternal and child deaths by challenging the perception that such tragedies are unavoidable. She emphasized that preventable deaths must no longer be accepted as normal, adding that all sectors of society have a responsibility to help safeguard the lives of mothers, newborns and children.
“No woman should die while giving birth, and no child should die from a preventable cause. This is not acceptable, and together we must work towards zero,” Dr. Mustapha stressed.
She further called for stronger coordination among government ministries, healthcare providers, communities, development partners, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders to address persistent challenges within the health system.
According to her, achieving the Triple Zero target will require a clear understanding of the factors contributing to maternal and child deaths, as well as practical interventions to address barriers preventing women and children from accessing timely, affordable and quality healthcare.
She noted that the 300 Days of Activism provides an important opportunity to examine existing gaps, strengthen accountability and develop coordinated responses that will sustain the progress already made.
Dr. Mustapha emphasized that the campaign’s success should not be measured solely by reductions in mortality figures, but by a collective commitment to ensuring that preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths are no longer treated as inevitable.
The town hall concluded with renewed calls for sustained investment in healthcare, increased community participation, stronger accountability and closer collaboration among all stakeholders.
The Ministry of Health and its partners reaffirmed the importance of collective responsibility in accelerating progress towards the Triple Zero target.
As the 300 Days of Activism continues, stakeholders are expected to build on the country’s achievements while addressing persistent challenges in the delivery of maternal and child healthcare services.
The campaign ultimately seeks to make zero preventable maternal deaths, zero preventable newborn deaths and zero preventable child deaths a reality for every family in Sierra Leone.
