Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, 21 May 2025 – Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, highlighted the country’s transformative approach to healthcare delivery at a high-level side event jointly hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Buffett Foundation on the margins of the World Health Assembly in Geneva. The event was chaired by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and a senior representative of the Buffett Foundation.
In his remarks, Dr. Demby shared Sierra Leone’s journey from vertical disease monitoring systems to a more integrated, person-centered life-stage model. He underscored the critical role of data in improving health outcomes and ensuring strategic planning.
A key innovation presented was the Pregnancy App, which registers and monitors every pregnant woman nationwide. Complementing this is the newly established Emergency Situation Room, designed to track and investigate every maternal and child death occurring in health facilities across the country.
“These systems have enabled timely interventions and contributed to a dramatic reduction in maternal mortality—by over 70%,” Dr. Demby said. “Currently, maternal mortality stands at 343 per 100,000 live births—an extraordinary achievement, but we’re pushing to bring it even lower.” His statement drew a round of applause from participants.
He noted that while Sierra Leone allocates approximately 11.6% of its GDP to the health sector, the relatively small size of the economy limits the actual impact of this investment. Therefore, sustainable financing and international support remain vital—especially to strengthen the supply chain and expand healthcare access.
Dr. Demby also announced the upcoming rollout of SLeSHi, the country’s national health insurance scheme, aimed at reducing out-of-pocket expenses for citizens.
He concluded by reiterating that quality data is essential for equitable and efficient resource deployment, calling on partners to continue supporting the country’s data-driven health reforms.
The Buffett Foundation is among the key international supporters of Sierra Leone’s health initiatives.
For more information, please contact: Mohamed Sheriff, Information Attaché—Geneva, Switzerland
Phone: +41 79 175 66 48 Email: m.sheriff@slmge.ch
