Port loko: In a major boost to Sierra Leone's fight against maternal and child mortality, Save the Children, in partnership with Map International, SHADE, SLaDA, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has donated a consignment of essential medical equipment to the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the District Health Management Team (DHMT) in Port Loko District.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the handover ceremony, held on March 11, marks a significant milestone under the LDSC health project. The five-year initiative is designed to strengthen maternal, newborn, and child health services across 62 health facilities supported by Save the Children in both Port Loko and Pujehun districts.
The donation is intended to improve health facility preparedness and elevate the quality of care. It also reinforces the collaborative framework between Save the Children, the national Ministry of Health, and local district authorities.
This support directly aligns with the government's ambitious '300 Days of Activism' campaign, a national drive aimed at eradicating preventable deaths among mothers and children, as well as addressing the issue of zero-dose children across the country.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Francis Moses, the District Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) representative who chaired the proceedings, hailed the gesture as a pivotal moment for local health systems. "This is more than just equipment; it is a milestone in strengthening our district health systems and fostering the kind of partnership that leads to sustainable change," he said.
Emmanuel Augiden, representing Save the Children in Port Loko, provided insights into the project's scope. He noted that the initiative relies heavily on local expertise, implemented in partnership with SHADE in Port Loko and SLaDA in Pujehun. "We work with two important partners who have made this journey a success," Augiden stated. He added that recent assessments at the Port Loko District Hospital would guide further improvements in infection prevention and control.
Esther Elliott Nyuma, Director of Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications, and Media at Save the Children, reinforced the organization's holistic approach to child welfare. "We focus on the 300 Days of Activism as part of our efforts to ensure that every child survives and thrives regardless of their status or location," Nyuma said. She emphasized that resilient health systems for mothers and children remain a core priority, expressing gratitude to the donor community for their trust and support.
Representing the donor, Mr. Sahr A. Sellu of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reaffirmed the church's enduring commitment to community upliftment. "We strongly believe in assisting the needy, particularly vulnerable women and children, through sustainable programmes in health, education, and development," he noted.
The event also drew commendation from senior health officials. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sartie Kanneh praised the alignment of the donation with national health strategies, specifically the '300 Days of Activism' agenda. Meanwhile, Margaret Manner, Programme Manager for Quality of Care at the Ministry of Health, used the platform to advocate for professionalism among healthcare workers. "Quality is doing the right thing when nobody is watching," Manner remarked, applauding Save the Children for demonstrating leadership in healthcare delivery.
Sahr Koadiama, Monitoring and Evaluation Project Development Coordinator at SLaDA, echoed these sentiments, thanking Save the Children for its consistent support in upgrading healthcare services.
The ceremony concluded with the official transfer of the equipment from donor representative Sahr Sellu to officials from the Ministry of Health and the DHMT. The new supplies are expected to significantly enhance healthcare delivery for mothers, newborns, and children, contributing to improved health outcomes in Port Loko, Pujehun, and beyond.