Gov’t Calls for Stronger Commitment

By Kadiatu Bash Kamara

The Ministry of Information and Civic Education has held a special town hall as part of the 300 Days of Activism for Triple Zero, bringing together stakeholders to discuss progress, challenges and practical steps towards achieving zero preventable maternal and child deaths. The event was held on Tuesday, 6th October 2026, at the Miatta Civic Centre in Freetown, under the theme “Achieving Triple Zero Together  Progress, Challenges and Next Steps.” The programme was hosted by the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, with the Deputy Minister 2 of Health, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha, serving as guest.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha highlighted the significant progress Sierra Leone has made in reducing maternal mortality over the past decade, noting that the country has moved from a situation where maternal deaths were considerably higher to achieving a substantial reduction through increased government investment and support from development partners. She, however, stressed that despite the progress recorded, the country cannot afford to become complacent when preventable deaths continue to occur.

Dr. Mustapha explained that the reduction in maternal mortality demonstrates what can be achieved when government, partners, health workers and communities work together towards a common objective. She noted that previous efforts have contributed significantly to saving the lives of women and children, but emphasized that the ultimate goal must go beyond reducing the number of deaths to ensuring that no woman dies while giving birth and no child dies from preventable causes.

“If we have been able to reduce maternal deaths by 70 percent, then we must ask ourselves: why should we stop there? We should move from three deaths to zero, because every life matters.”

The Deputy Minister further emphasized that the Triple Zero campaign is aimed at changing the national mindset from accepting maternal and child deaths as unavoidable to recognizing them as preventable tragedies that require urgent action. She stated that the campaign seeks to mobilize all sectors of society to take collective responsibility for protecting the lives of women and children and ensuring that preventable deaths are no longer accepted as normal.

“No woman should die while giving birth, and no child should die from a preventable cause. This is not acceptable, and together we must work towards zero.”

Dr. Mustapha also called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, health workers, communities, development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders. She explained that achieving Triple Zero requires identifying the underlying challenges within the health system, understanding why women and children continue to lose their lives, and developing practical solutions that address those challenges at community and national levels.

She noted that the campaign provides an opportunity for stakeholders to examine existing gaps, including barriers that prevent women from accessing timely and quality healthcare. According to her, identifying these challenges and responding with coordinated interventions will be critical to ensuring that the progress already made is sustained and accelerated.

“The aim is not just to reduce the numbers; the aim is to work together so that, by the end of this campaign, we can say that preventable maternal and child deaths are no longer being accepted as inevitable.”

The town hall concluded with a renewed call for collective action and stronger commitment towards achieving the Triple Zero target. The Ministry of Health and its partners reaffirmed the importance of continued investment, accountability, community engagement and coordinated action to protect women and children. The 300 Days of Activism therefore serves as a platform to build on Sierra Leone’s progress while addressing remaining challenges and moving decisively towards a future where zero preventable maternal deaths, zero preventable newborn deaths and zero preventable child deaths become a national reality.