Strong health systems depend on good evidence. Across Sierra Leone, HIRF invests in both the research that reveals what’s working and the routine data collection that shows where needs are greatest — ensuring resources reach the facilities and communities that need them most. From strengthening reporting systems to studying the impact of programs on the ground, this work shapes how HIRF and its partners respond to Sierra Leone’s most pressing health challenges.
HIRF is expanding its health systems strengthening portfolio through participation in several research collaborations. We are working with Helping Children Worldwide and the University of Makeni’s Centre of Excellence for Maternal and Child Health Education on a Maternal and Newborn Care Research Project.
HIRF is also partnering with the Foundation for the Localization and Innovation of Global Health Technologies (F.L.I.G.H.T.) and Columbia University on a perinatal sepsis study evaluating the use of essential medications for prevention and treatment. Additional maternal and newborn care review is underway with the Global Health Collaboration Project at Florida State University. Our ongoing work with Boston College continues to explore approaches to supporting maternal well-being and perinatal mental healthcare for mothers.
Sustainable improvement in health systems requires more than delivering medicines and training health workers — it demands rigorous evidence that interventions are working. HIRF is committed to ensuring that its programs are grounded in research and continuously informed by data, so that every investment builds toward lasting, measurable change.
To better identify which medicines and medical supplies are most needed—and in what quantities—HIRF is strengthening data collection across partner health facilities. Better, more consistent data helps guide resource allocation, reduce stockouts, and ensure essential medicines and supplies reach the facilities and patients who need them most.
A key part of this work is HIRF’s participation in Christian Connections for International Health’s (CCIH) 30×30 Initiative, a global effort to strengthen 30 health systems by 2030. In collaboration with the Christian Health Association of Sierra Leone (CHASL) and Helping Children Worldwide, the initiative supports improved routine data collection and data-driven decision-making across CHASL’s network of 41 faith-based health facilities nationwide.
Since the project began, the number of facilities consistently reporting data has continued to grow. In 2025, 17 facilities consistently submitted quarterly data, providing valuable insights into disease burden across key demographic groups and helping build a clearer picture of health needs within the communities they serve.