Orange & UBA Foundations Sign MOU
By Foday Moriba Conteh
Orange Foundation Sierra Leone and the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Foundation on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to rehabilitate the maternity ward of the York Peripheral Health Unit (PHU), as part of efforts to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths and improve access to quality healthcare.
The signing ceremony took place at the Orange Foundation Office in Hill Station, Freetown.
Director of Orange Foundation Sierra Leone, Annie Wonnie-Katta, described the partnership as a major milestone in strengthening maternal healthcare, noting that it builds on community-based interventions launched by the foundation in 2019. She said the MoU reflects a shared commitment to providing safe, dignified, and quality health services for women and newborns.
Country Director of Mama Pikin Foundation, Ms. Leeann Rizk, said the initiative would have a transformative impact on families, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by pregnant women. She noted that the delivery bucket and transport support programme, costing about $10 per mother, has supported over 20,000 women to opt for safe, facility-based deliveries. She also highlighted the BellehUman Bato Group (BBG) initiative, launched in 2023, which provides health education, emotional support, and community engagement, helping to rebuild trust in health facilities.
Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, Aicha Toure, said the partnership aligns with Orange Foundation’s long-standing commitment to maternal health, citing improvements in maternal mortality rates and increased safe deliveries supported by the project. She explained that the rehabilitation of the York PHU followed a 2025 assessment that identified key infrastructure gaps.
Managing Director of UBA Sierra Leone, Mr. Mohamed Alhajie Samoura, said the rehabilitation would include upgrades to maternity and postnatal wards, roofing, tiling, painting, and the provision of essential medical equipment, including oxygen resuscitation machines. He emphasized the role of the private sector in supporting sustainable development.
Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, commended both foundations, noting Sierra Leone’s significant progress in reducing maternal mortality. He called for stronger public-private partnerships to achieve zero preventable maternal and child deaths, and assured that the Ministry would provide the necessary personnel and technical support to ensure quality services at the York PHU.
The rehabilitation is expected to commence soon and is anticipated to significantly improve maternal healthcare delivery in the York community.