Maternal and Child deaths reduction in Sierra Leone receives a boost with a new hospital
Pujehun – “It is unacceptable that so many women die in the basic act of giving life. Universal access to quality antenatal, obstetric, neonatal and postnatal care, and an integrated childhood care, can ensure a reduction in maternal and neonatal deaths in Sierra Leone. This hospital has come at the right time to compliment our efforts in reducing maternal and child deaths in the Free Health Care Initiative.”
This was Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health and Sanitation, Hon Mrs. Zainab Hawa Bangura described the situation of maternal and child heath in the country as she opened a new maternity hospital in Punjehun, Southern Sierra Leone.
The construction and furnishing of the maternity complex, which was facilitated by UNICEF through the Italian National Committee for UNICEF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, is a significant step in contributing to the reduction of maternal deaths and boosting child survival in Sierra Leone. The maternity complex costs over $1 million dollars and over 12,000 pregnant woman and newborns will benefit from safe delivery and postnatal care services every year.
The new maternity facility includes antenatal and postnatal wards, post operative and eclampitic wards, an operating theatre, a laboratory and a pharmacy. A borehole and well for the supply of water have also been provided with two generator and solar lighting system. The maternity unit incorporates a baby-friendly initiative that encourages immediate breastfeeding after delivery and will also facilitate the training of skilled birth attendants including midwives, nurses and maternal child health Aides.
“Which such life saving equipment and facilities, this hospital should be an example for the construction of subsequent maternity hospitals in the country. Therefore, every member of this community should actively support every pregnant woman to use these facilities to contribute to the reduction of the alarming rate of maternal and child mortality in the country” Mrs. Bangura reiterated.
Sierra Leone recently witnessed slight reductions in maternal and child mortality rates, according to the Demographic and Health Survey, 2008. The under five mortality rate now stands at 140 out of every 1,000 live births and that for maternal mortality is 857 out 100,000.
The infant mortality rate in the district of Punjehun is 212 deaths foe every 1000 live births, both of which are above the national average. The district maternal mortality ratio was also higher than the national average.
Mami Kllon is a 28 year old woman from Gibina village 9 miles away from Pujehun. Her sad story of a delayed and risky labour in the old district hospital which was reported in 2008 strongly supported the arguments for the construction of the new hospital. Mami Kallon at that time was brought to the hospital because she had complication during labour. Due to the bad condition of the hospital and the costs that awaited her there before the Free Health Care she was brought in too late and lost her baby.
At the inauguration of the new maternity ward she said she was especially happy about the construction of the hospital since it means that now more pregnant women and their babies can be saved if only people make proper use of the facility and of the Free Health Care system. “In the future I hope that women will come to the hospital in time so they can deliver healthy babies in a safe environment. The new facilities are modern and well equipped and women don’t have to pay anymore for deliveries, so there is no reason not to come here for care” she said.
“This hospital, if used effectively, will contribute to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality in the country as a whole. With proper attention and investment, women’s lives, and ultimately the lives of children, can be preserved”, said Mahimbo Mdoe, UNICEF’s Representative in Sierra Leone. “As development partners, we are committed to working with the Government of Sierra Leone in meeting some of the benchmarks of the Millennium Development Goals, which call for prioritizing health care for women and children, and universal access to reproductive health services including high-quality antenatal, delivery, postnatal and neonatal care.”
UNICEF
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