Recently, Sierra Leone was excluded from the critical $500M Beginnings Fund, a global initiative supporting maternal and child health. As international efforts to reduce maternal mortality grow, this exclusion undermines the mothers fighting for better healthcare.
The Beginnings Fund, a $500 million initiative, aims to improve maternal and newborn health across sub-Saharan Africa. While the fund focuses on investments in 10 countries, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, it has not yet disclosed the criteria for selecting these nations. By strengthening healthcare systems, the fund hopes to reduce maternal mortality and enhance birth outcomes in some of the world’s most underserved areas. However, Sierra Leone, despite its urgent need, has been excluded from this crucial funding.
Severe Gaps in Healthcare Access in Sierra Leone
Ranked as the 14th poorest country in the world by GDP per capita in 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund, Sierra Leone’s healthcare system remains in crisis. Still reeling from the impacts of 12 years of civil war, Ebola, and COVID-19, the situation has worsened with the recent withdrawal of USAID.
The country faces a critical shortage of healthcare workers and facilities, particularly in rural areas, where over 60% of deliveries occur without the presence of skilled attendants. Many health centers are understaffed, lack essential equipment like ultrasound machines and oxygen, and struggle with limited access to quality medical supplies, leaving maternal health services severely underprepared. This highlights the pressing need for targeted enhancements in healthcare access, infrastructure, and the delivery of skilled medical care.
Despite these challenges, Sierra Leone has already demonstrated its remarkable capacity for change and progress. Maternal mortality has decreased from 1,682 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 354 per 100,000 in 2023, while infant mortality has dropped by over 50% from 2000 to 2022. However, the country is still far from meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. Achieving this goal is possible, but it requires continued global investment.
Aminata Maternal Foundation is committed to ending infant and maternal mortality in Sierra Leone, one of the most dangerous places in the world to give birth. Our mission centers on life-saving partnerships and expanding access to maternal healthcare, particularly in rural communities where resources are scarce. We provide essential medical equipment, like ultrasound machines, and collaborate with local organizations to deliver critical, life-saving care.
As an African-Australian female-founded non-profit, the foundation is uniquely positioned to make a profound impact on maternal healthcare in Sierra Leone and beyond. The foundation brings a culturally informed perspective, ensuring that our efforts are deeply aligned with the needs and experiences of the communities we serve. This leadership fosters trust, strengthens community relationships, and drives our focused commitment to improving healthcare for women and babies.
Our objective by 2030 is to improve health outcomes in rural communities, especially in Binkolo and Kalangba, where access to quality care is scarce. Our strategy is to enhance healthcare infrastructure, train local healthcare workers, and expand vital programs like maternal health education and teenage pregnancy prevention. Having already provided these communities with essential medical equipment, including ultrasound machines, we aim to build on this foundation and further expand our impact. By adopting a comprehensive approach, we aim to ensure that the highest standards of maternal healthcare are accessible to those who need it most.