Health Education Programme, Ministry of Health and Sanitation

17/04/2026

17/04/2026

A major boost to neonatal healthcare services was recorded in northern Sierra Leone as the Makeni Regional Hospital officially commissioned its newly Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), following the devastating fire that destroyed the previous facility.

The commissioning ceremony was led by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer Clinical, Dr. Mustapha Kabba, who described the new unit as a critical intervention to restore and strengthen lifesaving care for newborns across the region. The reconstruction of the SCBU was made possible with support from Seed Global Health, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

April 11th, 2025 the old SCBU was completely burnt down in a fire incident, leaving a major gap in neonatal care services and forcing referrals of critically ill newborns to distant facilities. The new unit now restores that capacity, offering a safer and more advanced environment for the care of premature and vulnerable babies.

The commissioning of the SCBU aligns with ongoing national priorities to achieve zero preventable maternal and child deaths and zero dose children, ensuring that even in the face of setbacks, the country continues to rebuild stronger and more resilient health services.

With services now fully restored, families in Makeni and surrounding communities can once again access specialized neonatal care closer to home, offering renewed hope for healthier beginnings.

25/02/2026

Today was a deeply fulfilling day for the Ministry of Health as Austin Demby, PhD, MPH’s top management team, headed by the Deputy Minister of Health 1, Charles Senessie, led a team of top Government Ministers on a conducted tour of the Maternal Center of Excellence (MCOE) in Koidu town, district. The tour, which was preceded by a brilliant showcase of improvement in the health sector at The Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s , was to give the government ministers a glimpse into the MCOE’s capabilities as a state-of-the-art facility that is poised to transform the healthcare narratives for women and children in this part of the country.

This ultramodern hospital, built by PIH Sierra Leone in close collaboration with the , already started operation since February 14 this year. On day one of serving the people, the MCOE received about 27 patients and successfully managed 13 deliveries with 7 cesarean sections (C-sections). Early signs are that this new 120-bed facility, including the country’s first 39-beds Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), will no doubt guarantee the people of Kono and beyond an undeniable quality of healthcare services for mothers and children.
Julius Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
UNFPA Sierra Leone
Africa CDC
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

25/02/2026

“Patients are our bosses and we must treat them with dignity, respect and professionalism at all times,”
Dr. Austin Demby

Over the weekend, the Minister of Health, Austin Demby, PhD, MPH, concluded a Management Training for Senior Nurses and Midwives in Bo from 19 to 21 February 2026. The activity marked a significant milestone in the Ministry of Health’s drive to strengthen leadership capacity, improve healthcare accountability and quality service delivery within across the sector.

In his closing statement, Dr. Demby commended nurses and midwives for their critical role in strengthening health service delivery. He emphasized the need for investment in the welfare and professional growth of nurses and midwives. Minister Demby on nurses to strictly adhere to ethical standards and fully align with the President’s recent pronouncement of a 300 Day Activism for Mothers and Children. He highlighted the urgent need for zero tolerance to absenteeism and the allege unethical practice of nurses extorting monies from patients.

20/02/2026

12/02/2026

Five years ago, Julius Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone appointed Austin Demby, PhD, MPH as Minister of Health to provide leadership, direction, transformation and hope in the health sector.

The journey has neither been smooth nor perfect, but it has been deeply satisfying with some remarkable improvements in nearly all areas of the healthcare ecosystem.

"What we are doing here is phenomenal. The changes we are trying to put in place are other people's dreams," Dr. Demby said about the ongoing work in the health sector.

Austin Demby, PhD, MPH Julius Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. World Health Organization (WHO) PIH Sierra Leone Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance UNICEF Sierra Leone Africa CDC UNFPA Sierra Leone

19/01/2026

Another ground-breaking moment for healthcare in Sierra Leone as Austin Demby, PhD, MPH today launched the first ever National Health Information Hub on behalf of Julius Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

This new health information center now provides the country an opportunity to get real-time data on maternal and child health indicators including, pregnancies, deliveries, antenatal and postnatal care, immunization and mortality, for informed decision making that will impact quality health outcomes.

This landmark initiative aligns with the , which speaks to good health and wellbeing and the country’s ambition to achieve universal health coverage.