By Matthew Abdul Kanu in Makeni, Sierra Leone
On 1 March 2025, the University of Makeni Public Health Department officially launched the Center of Excellence for Maternal and Child Health Education at the Yoni Campus. Head of the Public Health Department, Sr. Magdalene Umoh, said the center launch was 100% funded by their past students. “I salute their love for the department and the university by extension,” she said. She said the department must always endeavor to give alumni the best. “They will someday get back to the department in a positive way. Let’s encourage them to give back to our university. This is where they have been nurtured and molded into who they have become today,” she said.
The Centre of Excellence for Maternal and Child Health Education is a specialized center focusing on advancing Maternal and Child Health (MCH) through education, research, and advocacy. Established to address the high maternal and infant mortality rates in Sierra Leone. “Committed to bridging gaps in healthcare accessibility and quality,” Sr. Magdalene said.
UNIMAK was the first Catholic and private university in Sierra Leone. Its three core values include teaching, research, and community engagement. Over 200 people attended the launch of the center.
Sierra Leone’s maternal mortality rate: 443 deaths per 100,000 live births; infants: 75 per 1000 births in 2019 (Medium Term National Development Plan 2024-2030).
Sierra Leone remains a long way off the UN’s 2030 SDG for maternal mortality of 70 deaths per 100,000 live births. (WHO,2024). Rural women face severe healthcare disparities, leading to preventable deaths (United Nations, 2023). Limited access to skilled healthcare providers and inadequate medical facilities.
Director of Holy Spirit Hospital and lecturer of the Public Health Department, Dr. Patrick Turay, said they gather not only to celebrate this significant milestone in our collective journey towards advancing maternal and child health but also to affirm our shared commitment to building a healthier future for women, children, and families everywhere.
Dr. Turay said the importance of maternal and child health cannot be overstated. “It is the cornerstone of thriving communities and an indicator of societal progress. Healthy mothers nurture healthy children, and healthy children form the backbone of a prosperous, equitable society,” he said.
Over the years, the country has made tremendous efforts to improve the maternal and child health sector; however, maternal mortality remains an issue, highlighting the need for continued efforts to address persistent challenges in ensuring quality healthcare, education, and advocacy in this field, particularly in underserved and vulnerable populations.
Dr. Turay said this center serves as a bold response to those challenges. By integrating academic excellence, research innovation, and practical engagement, it is vital to equip the next generation of leaders, healthcare providers, and advocates in maternal and child health.
“This is an endeavor that bridges the classroom with the community, fostering not only theoretical understanding but also real-world impact. I want everyone seated here today to note that maternal and child health education is more than an academic initiative; it is a call to action. It invites us all to contribute to solving critical issues such as reducing maternal mortality, improving child health outcomes, addressing disparities in access to care, and empowering, “he concluded.
The Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Dr. Rebecca Esliker, said they are gathered to grace the opening of the Maternal and Child Health in Research, Education, and Community engagement
“This is a significant milestone aimed at adding safe motherhood and well-being for our mothers and children, who often lose their lives innocently to conditions that are both addressable and preventable, she said.
According to Dr. Esliker, Sierra Leone is ranked one of the highest in terms of maternal mortality. This Centre is the right direction to go. I, therefore, ask that we all come together to support our standing vision
“Our center is ever ready to help the government and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to reduce maternal mortality through capacity building and a strong database surrounding maternal health through research, education, and community engagement,” Dr. Esliker said.
She said the Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences is grateful for this launching ceremony at UNIMAK.
The Public Health Department was introduced in 2009. Currently, the Department has a Master’s program in Public Health with a steady enrolment for both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The Ministry of Health Director of Primary Health, Dr. Brima Osia-Kamara, attended the launching ceremony. He likes many attendees said the center’s emergence underscores the UNIMAK commitment to providing the highest quality of education, resources, and support for healthcare providers, families, and communities “ Maternal and Child Health is a critical priority for our Ministry, as it lays the groundwork for our nation’s future health,” he said.
He said the Ministry of Health remains dedicated to fostering innovations that improve health outcomes and ensure every mother and child has the support they need to thrive. “As we launch this center, we encourage all stakeholders—healthcare professionals, educators, policymakers, and community members—to join us in this vital endeavor. Together, we can create a healthy future for mothers and their children,” he said.
Many people at home and abroad believed that the launching of the Center was a step in the right direction for a better health sector within the West African Subregion.