Sierra Leone is facing a shifting health landscape. While communicable diseases like malaria remain the leading cause of illness and death, there is a growing and concerning rise in noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. World Bank findings highlight this trend, showing that NCDs are becoming a major driver of mortality in Sierra Leone — accounting for an estimated 34.5% of all deaths nationwide. Data collected by HIRF echoes this reality: hypertension alone accounted for 17% of all cases treated across 20 HIRF-supported facilities. In some of Freetown’s densely populated urban settlements, hypertension prevalence among adults over 35 has been found to exceed 40%, suggesting the true burden in high-density areas may be even greater than national estimates capture.
Diabetes tells a similar story. Prevalence has more than doubled over the past decade, rising from an estimated 72,000 cases in 2011 to approximately 170,000 adults by 2024. Yet nearly 79% of people living with diabetes in Sierra Leone remain undiagnosed, pointing to a significant and largely invisible gap in the country’s health system.
To respond to this growing need, HIRF works closely with its partners to secure essential medicines and improve access to treatment for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and sickle cell disease. Regular shipments of medicines — including treatments to manage blood sugar and control high blood pressure — help HIRF-supported facilities keep pace with rising demand and ensure patients receive consistent, long-term care. HIRF has also expanded its partnership with the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) to strengthen long-term hypertension and diabetes care at health facilities across the country.
Data from HIRF-supported facilities shows hypertension is an increasing concern — now accounting for 11% of all diagnosed cases, and an alarming 37% among pregnant women. In response, HIRF prioritizes access to hypertension medications and, through its partnership with CMMB, HIRF is strengthening long-term hypertension care at health facilities across the country.
Diabetes prevalence has more than doubled in Sierra Leone over the past decade, and nearly 79% of people living with it remain undiagnosed. In response, HIRF has supplied diabetes medicines to supported facilities, enabling more than 18,000 patient treatments in 2025. Through its partnership with CMMB, HIRF is also strengthening long-term diabetes care.
SCD is a leading cause of childhood illness and death in Sierra Leone. Many children go undiagnosed and untreated. HIRF partnered with Mercy Hospital and Helping Children Worldwide to provide free screenings, raise awareness, link children to care, and supply folic acid to reduce complications. Across the HIRF network, more than 16,000 patient treatments for SCD have been provided.
