Enhancing Maternal Health
Maternal mortality remains a critical public health challenge in Sierra Leone, driven by preventable conditions such as obstetric hemorrhage, hypertension, obstructed labor, and sepsis. At HIRF, we are committed to reducing maternal deaths by ensuring that pregnant women have access to high-quality care and essential medicines. Our vision is a future where every mother can anticipate a safe and healthy childbirth experience.
Through partnerships with both national and international organizations, HIRF has been actively supporting the capacity building of nurses and midwives in Sierra Leone as part of our broader mission to strengthen the country’s health system. Two district-wide training conferences—held in Bo and Kenema—have provided nearly 150 nurses and midwives with hands-on instruction in critical, life-saving techniques.
Yet, training alone is not sufficient. Sustainable improvements in maternal health also require consistent access to essential medicines. We are pleased to announce the arrival of our first shipment from our newest partner, International Health Partners (IHP), which includes vital maternal health medicines. This shipment contains 4,000 patient treatments of tranexamic acid to manage obstetric hemorrhage and medication to treat more than 28,000 women experiencing post-partum hemorrhaging.
Nutritional support is also a key part of maternal care. This shipment includes nearly 16,000 patient treatments of folic acid. Folic acid is important because it helps prevent serious birth defects in a baby’s brain and spine and supports the production of red blood cells needed during pregnancy.
Finally, quality antibiotics to fight infection are also critical to maternal health and that is why we are so pleased that this shipment has a variety of antibiotics that can be utilized by hospitals and clinics. Specifically safe for use for pregnant women there is azithromycin, trimethoprim, and clindamycin with a total of 12,930 patient treatments.
This delivery significantly enhances HIRF’s ability to provide timely, effective maternal care across Sierra Leone and underscores the value of our partnership with IHP.
Sickle Cell Awareness & Treatment Project in Bo
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) remains one of the leading causes of childhood mortality in Sierra Leone, where too many children go undiagnosed and untreated due to limited healthcare resources. Early diagnosis and consistent treatment are essential to saving lives and ensuring better long-term health outcomes for those affected by this life-threatening genetic blood disorder.
That’s why HIRF is proud to partner with Mercy Hospital and Helping Children Worldwide on a vital initiative in Bo District. Together we are raising awareness, providing free sickle cell screenings, and ensuring access to ongoing treatment and care. This community-based approach is helping to identify children with SCD early and connecting them with the support they need to survive.
As part of this collaborative efort, HIRF is also contributing a supply of folic acid from the IHP shipment. Folic acid is critical for individuals with sickle cell disease, as it supports the production of healthy red blood cells, helping to reduce complications and improve quality of life. Through strategic partnerships, shared commitment, and compassion, we are working to change the narrative of sickle cell disease in Sierra Leone–one child, one family, and one community at a time.
Essential Health Packs to Benefit Rural Clinics & Outreach Efforts
HIRF supports several rural clinics in Sierra Leone that face critical shortages of medicines needed to treat common infections and chronic conditions. The Essential Health Packs (EHPs) in this shipment will be of great benefit to these clinics and to outreach efforts conducted by other facilities.
Each EHP is equipped to treat at least 800 patients and includes a carefully selected range of essential medicines—such as antibiotics, pain relievers, cardiovascular drugs, and medications for diabetes management. These packs are especially valuable in hard-to-reach rural areas and for mobile outreach programs, thanks to their compact design and ease of transport.
Additionally, the packs have long expiration dates, ensuring they remain effective and useful over extended periods—making them a sustainable resource for clinics with limited access to regular resupply.
Responding to Health Emergencies
HIRF has a longstanding record of supporting public health emergency response in Sierra Leone. From the Ebola epidemic to the COVID-19 pandemic, HIRF has partnered with national and international partners to deliver essential emergency supplies. Today, as Sierra Leone confronts an Mpox outbreak, with over 4,500 confirmed cases and an average of 29 new cases reported daily, HIRF is once again providing support. Supplies from this IHP shipment will aid the Government of Sierra Leone’s response by delivering antibiotics to treat secondary infections and other medicines to help manage fever and pain associated with Mpox.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to expand our reach through strategic partnerships and targeted interventions, HIRF remains deeply committed to improving health outcomes across Sierra Leone. Our new partnership with IHP is a powerful step forward in advancing our mission to strengthen health systems and improve the quality of care. We look forward to building on this work with IHP to ensure that essential healthcare is accessible to all in Sierra Leone.
