UNFPA in Sierra Leone

@UNFPASierraLeone & @stats_sl convened the Census Technical & Advisory Committee meetings in Freetown — a key step toward a credible, inclusive #Census2026. One message rang clear: Sierra Leone's census must count every person. 🇸🇱 #SierraLeone #UNFPA #LeaveNoOneBehind

Have you heard of obstetric fistula? Half a million women and girls globally suffer from this devastating childbirth injury. Luckily, it’s preventable and treatable. Join @‌UNFPA to learn more on how the world can #EndFistula: unf.pa/cef

Seeing continued investments in maternal and adolescent health translating into real impact for communities across Sierra Leone remains deeply encouraging. This week in Makeni and Fadugu, I joined a high-level delegation from the Government of Iceland alongside @mohs_sl, district authorities, healthcare workers, and community representatives for the handover of two refurbished health facilities supporting maternal and adolescent health services in Northern Sierra Leone. From the renovated maternity wing at Makeni Regional Hospital to the dedicated youth-friendly health hub in Fadugu, these investments will strengthen access to quality and lifesaving healthcare services for women, girls, and young people. 🏥✨ Our sincere appreciation to @IcelandinSalone for its longstanding partnership and continued commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of communities in Sierra Leone, and to the healthcare workers and district teams whose dedication continues to drive progress every day. 🙏🏾 @UNFPA remains committed to working alongside Government and partners to ensure that every woman, every young person, and every community can access quality, dignified, and lifesaving healthcare services. 🧡 #MaternalHealth #EndFistula #AdolescentHealth #SRHR #HealthForAll

🤰🏿 A mother and her baby share a bond and a deep connection that AI can't simulate. Join @UNFPA to support maternal health for every mother, everywhere: unf.pa/mhh #SafeBirth

In Fadugu, Koinadugu District, a community health center has been transformed into a dedicated adolescent SRH Hub—a safe, youth-friendly space where young women can access quality reproductive health services close to home. Officially handed over. 🧡🇸🇱

Makeni Regional Hospital serves 1.3 million people across the Northeast region. Its renovated maternity wing, maternal theater, labor room, maternity & fistula ward were officially handed over to the people of Bombali District. Every woman here deserves dignified care. 🧡🇸🇱

@UNFPASierraleon with support from @icelandicgov officially handed over two refurbished & equipped maternity unit & SRH Hub health facilities to @mohs_sl & DHMT in Makeni and Fadugu. Bringing quality maternal and adolescent health care closer to the people who need it most🧡🇸🇱

"When a mother dies, a family doesn't only lose one person—it loses its center." This is why @UNFPASierraleon supports midwives in Sierra Leone and beyond. Every woman deserves skilled care. Every mother deserves to live. unf.pa/ksj

On 7 May, we celebrated our strategic partnership with @IcelandinSalone, transforming gender equality and SRHR in Sierra Leone. @UNFPASierraleon remains committed to ensuring girls and women enjoy dignity, health, and choice. 🇮🇸 🇸🇱

To the women who nurture our future: Today we celebrate your strength and your rights. 🇸🇱🌸 @UNFPASierraleon remains committed to ensuring every childbirth is safe and every mother is treated with dignity. Happy Mother’s Day! ⚖️💖 ​#MothersDay #MaternalHealth #SierraLeone

The Programme Coordination Team under the #EU funded @GlobalSpotlight in 🇸🇱 has concluded a 2-days Participatory Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting (PMER) Workshop in Bo, @UNDPSierraLeone @UNFPASierraleon @UNICEFSL #UNWomen & their IPs & key stakeholders including PCs, school

Investing in midwives is one of the most powerful ways to save lives. At the International Day of the Midwife Scientific Symposium in Freetown, I was encouraged by the launch of Sierra Leone’s first National Midwifery Investment Case—a critical step toward scaling the workforce needed to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths. Sierra Leone has made real progress, and @UNFPASierraleon is proud to have supported the training of over 1,800 midwives. But the gap remains. We must accelerate investment, particularly across Africa, where the need is greatest. Midwives are at the heart of resilient health systems. Supporting them is not optional, it is essential✊🏽 #IDM2026 #MidwivesSaveLives

@UNFPASierraleon held a consultative meeting with @IcelandinSalone to review the progress on key life-transforming investments: ending fistula & FGM and supporting the 2026 Population Census—advancing rights, equity & evidence-based development. 🇸🇱🤝🇮🇸

One million more midwives, four million lives saved. Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Ms. Diene Keita on International Day of the Midwife (5 May) ➡️unf.pa/4enjECZ #IDM2026 #OneMIllionMoreMidwives

A midwife can be the difference between life and death. For every woman and newborn who needs them, midwives are there, providing care and support. On International Day of the #Midwife, let’s champion them. 📝 Read @unfpachief’s full statement: unf.pa/imd26

Today is #InternationalDayOfTheMidwife. The world needs 1 million more midwives. Sierra Leone is training them. @UNFPASierraLeone is committed to every step of that journey. Midwives save lives. Now the world must invest in them. #IDM2026 #OneMIllionMoreMidwives #MidwivesSL

Across communities in Moyamba District, with support from the @EUinSierraLeone through @UNFPASierraleon, under the Spotlight Initiative Project, we are intensifying efforts to ensure that no one faces violence in silence. Through targeted community outreach campaigns, we are promoting the utilization of One Stop Centres (OSCs), encouraging young people to speak out against violence, and strengthening linkages to essential services for survivors. Led by dedicated male advocacy groups, these engagements were held in Bailargor Community (Kori Chiefdom), Shenge (Kagboro Chiefdom), and Bradford (Ribbi Chiefdom). The conversations were bold, inclusive, and action-driven as they brought together school pupils, youths, community leaders, women, and girls. With a strong focus on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), the outreach helped to break harmful norms, amplify voices, and promote safer, more supportive communities for all.

❌Feminicide ❌Sexual harassment ❌Rape ❌Child marriage ❌Female Genital Mutilation ❌Honor killing ❌Human Trafficking ❌Cyberbullying ❌Sexual violence How many more reasons do you need for why we must stand up for women’s rights❓ #ENDviolence against women & girls. NOW❗️

Today, the health walk & blood donation drive rallied our communities around a powerful truth: the world needs #OneMillionMoreMidwives to ensure every mother receives the skilled care that saves lives. To every midwife in Sierra Leone—you are essential. #IDM2026

$1 invested in midwife-led care. $7 returned in social and economic benefits. Midwifery is not just the compassionate choice. It is the smartest investment in universal health coverage available to any government. #IDM2026 #InvestInMidwives #OneMIllionMoreMidwives