By Alhaji Haruna Sani
Stakeholders in photo opps during the workshop at the New Brookfields Hotel
In a decisive step towards combating maternal mortality, UNFPA gathered stakeholders at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown on Tuesday, November 12, for a national consultation to outline strategic priorities that will reshape midwifery practices across the country.
The event brought together government representatives, health experts, and international partners, each committed to elevating midwifery as a cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s healthcare system.
Delivering the keynote, Deputy Minister of Health I, Dr. Charles Senesie, underscored midwifery’s pivotal role in Sierra Leone’s substantial 74% reduction in maternal mortality since 2000.
He highlighted the need to further expand midwifery education, ensuring accessible healthcare facilities within a 3–5 km radius staffed with skilled midwives. “The more trained midwives we have, the more lives we can save,” Dr. Senesie stated, envisioning a future where midwives play an integrated role in primary healthcare.
Nadia Rasheed, Country Representative for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), spoke on the challenges faced by midwives worldwide, especially in low-resource areas. She highlighted the Global Midwifery Acceleration Roadmap, an international effort led by UNFPA, WHO, JHPIEGO, and the National Federation of
Midwives, aimed at revitalizing midwifery by improving training and working conditions. Rasheed praised Sierra Leone’s rapid progress, noting that the number of midwives has grown from fewer than 100 in 2010 to over 1,900 today—a promising foundation for the country’s ambitious goals.
“Sierra Leone’s recognition as a leader in midwifery reform is a testament to its dedication to maternal health,” Rasheed said, framing the consultation as a key moment to solidify recent progress and look ahead to future milestones.
In a stirring call for action, Matron Amba Rashida M. Coker, Deputy Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, reminded attendees of midwifery’s essential role in building a healthy nation. “If the mother and child are healthy, then we have a healthy nation,” she affirmed, framing the national priorities as both life-saving goals and a commitment to empowering women’s health.
Dr. Tom Sesay, Director of Reproductive and Child Health, added that the critical shortage of midwives in rural areas often leaves women without professional care during childbirth, a gap he urged the country to address through stronger recruitment and collaboration efforts.
The workshop laid the groundwork for advancing midwifery in Sierra Leone, highlighting the importance of building a skilled workforce, ensuring equitable healthcare access, and promoting midwives as frontline healthcare providers.
