Sierra Leone

African baby and mother

Sierra Leone opens its first-ever NICU in historic milestone for maternal health

In a historic milestone for global health, Sierra Leone has opened its first-ever neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the new Maternal Center of Excellence in Kono District. This state-of-the-art facility, built by Partners In Health and the local government, was largely funded by the “Nerdfighteria” community led by Hank and John Green, who raised over $50 million. The center aims to drastically reduce maternal and infant mortality by providing advanced care, including piped oxygen and surgical suites, while serving as a teaching hospital for the next generation of local clinicians.

Sierra Leone woman

Sierra Leone bans child marriage

Anybody in the West African nation now involved in the marriage of a girl under the age of 18 will be jailed for at least 15 years or fined around $4,000, or both. The Ministry of Health estimates that a third of girls are married off before they turn 18, accounting for the country’s high number of maternal deaths – among the highest in the world.