Ministry of Health is on the verge of making history for children in Sierra Leone. The Minister, Dr. Austin Demby, this week declared child health a priority for his ministry. The declaration is poised to transform the challenging healthcare narratives for under-five children in this country.
Although Siera Leone has made tremendous progress when it comes to improving maternal health, the same cannot be said of child health. In 2021 alone over 27,000 children under the age of five died. Currently, the country’s under-five mortality rate stands at 105 deaths per 1,000 live births.
This means that Sierra Leone is off track to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Target of 25 or fewer deaths per 1,000 live births. So, what does this declaration say about the government’s commitment to addressing healthcare for children?
We take a nosedive into this declaration and explore what it means for children in Sierra Leone and what the next steps are moving forward.
Credits:
Podcast hosted by: Abdul Samba Brima, Communication Specialist Ministry of Health
Producers are: James T. Kallay and John T. Allieu
Guests:
Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health of the Republic of Sierra Leone
Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha, Deputy Minister of Health 2
Dr. Linda Farma-Grant, Programme Manager for the National Child Health Programme Ministry of Health
