The Ministry of Health in Sierra Leone has strengthened access to maternal and newborn healthcare in hard-to-reach communities in Pujehun District with the commissioning of the newly rehabilitated Gbondapi Community Health Centre. Health Minister Dr. Austin Demby led the commissioning ceremony. The upgraded Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) facility will serve over 9,067 people across 14 communities in Pujehun and neighbouring Bonthe District. This development aims to provide improved access to essential maternal and newborn healthcare services.
The rehabilitation of the Gbondapi Health Centre was undertaken through the Ministry's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Project. This project addressed years of infrastructural challenges at the facility. The improvements include expanded labour and delivery rooms, modern toilets and showers, solar-powered electricity, air-conditioning, improved drainage, and paved surroundings. The centre is equipped with essential medical equipment, including four delivery beds, nine postnatal beds, and two ultrasound scanners.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mustapha Kabba emphasized the government's commitment to strengthening primary healthcare and ensuring health facilities are properly equipped to deliver quality services. He stressed that improved infrastructure must be supported by qualified healthcare workers, functional ambulance and referral systems, proper equipment maintenance, and active community participation. Dr. Kabba encouraged residents and local leaders to take ownership of the facility.
Dr. Austin Demby highlighted the importance of reliable electricity, water supply, laboratory and ultrasound services in improving maternal and newborn healthcare. He urged healthcare workers to uphold professionalism and compassion while encouraging pregnant women to seek early antenatal care, deliver in health facilities, and access timely referrals when complications arise. The Minister also disclosed plans for a proposed 100-bed hospital approximately five kilometres from Gbondapi.
The Gbondapi Health Centre has made significant progress in maternal healthcare services. Statistics from October 2025 to September 2026 show that the health centre recorded 379 facility deliveries, representing 101 per cent of its target. It also registered 401 first antenatal care visits and 364 fourth antenatal care visits. These statistics demonstrate the centre's potential to improve maternal and newborn healthcare in the region.
The Ministry identified staff accommodation and the pin-coding of eligible healthcare workers as key priorities to ensure sustained operations and continuous access to skilled healthcare services. The commissioning of the Gbondapi Health Centre forms part of the Ministry's broader efforts to strengthen primary healthcare and advance the 300-Days Activism for Triple Zero. This initiative targets zero preventable maternal deaths, zero preventable child deaths, and reaching zero-dose children.
The rehabilitation of the Gbondapi Health Centre and expansion of maternal healthcare access to 14 communities reflect the Ministry of Health's commitment to improving healthcare services in Sierra Leone. The Ministry's efforts aim to address the healthcare needs of hard-to-reach communities and reduce maternal and child mortality rates. Key initiatives include ensuring qualified healthcare workers, proper equipment maintenance, and community participation in healthcare delivery.
Key points
- The Gbondapi Health Centre serves over 9,067 people across 14 communities in Pujehun and Bonthe Districts.
- The centre's rehabilitation was undertaken through the Ministry's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Project.
- The Ministry plans to establish a proposed 100-bed hospital approximately five kilometres from Gbondapi to strengthen healthcare delivery in the area.
