AYV News, December 17, 2025
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, Dr Austin Demby, has revealed that the country records close to four hundred and fifty thousand pregnancies yearly countrywide.
In 2025, Sierra Leone focused heavily on improving maternal health and reducing adolescent pregnancies through new national strategies, like the one launched in February to end child marriage and teenage pregnancy, alongside initiatives to strengthen midwife training and utilise tech like the CRADLE vital signs monitor, aiming to lower the significant maternal mortality and high adolescent birth rates still present in the country, as evidenced by launches and studies published in early to mid-2025.
A major focus was the launch of a new National Strategy (2025-2030) to tackle adolescent pregnancy and child marriage, recognizing their impact on youth development.
The Sierra Leone Midwives Association (SLMA) and partners, including UNFPA Sierra Leone, emphasised midwives’ crucial role, training health workers and supporting digital tools for better care.
The WHO and Ministry of Health launched campaigns to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths, highlighting progress in reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR).
A Lancet study in October 2025 showed success in using the low-cost CRADLE device to monitor vital signs in pregnant women nationwide, improving care quality.
Despite efforts, adolescent pregnancy remains a challenge, with significant numbers of young women starting childbearing, particularly in rural areas.
While falling, preventable maternal deaths remain a priority, with haemorrhage, hypertension, and obstructed labor being the leading causes.
Overall, 2025 has been a year of renewed commitment in Sierra Leone to improve maternal and adolescent health outcomes through policy, technology, and increased investment in healthcare systems.
