Miatta Kargbo, health minister
A UN World Health Organisation report released on Tuesday 6 May 2014 says Sierra Leone is the worst country in the world for a woman to give birth. This, despite the free health care for pregnant women introduced in 2011.
The report ranks the country as having the highest maternal deaths in the world - at 1,100 out of every 100,000. This is far worse than neighbouring countries of Guinea where the figure is 650/100,000 and Liberia where it is 640/100,000.
Chad has the second highest with 980, followed by the Central African Republic with 880 and Burundi at 740.
The Country Representative of WHO, Dr Jacob Mufunda confirmed the report but said he would not comment on why the figures were this high. He said they needed to meet with other stakeholders including the Ministry of Health to analyse the causes.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Brima Kargbo said he had received the report but had not yet studied it hence could not respond to it.
At the height of the country's civil war and the early years that followed, the country had the grimmest statistics for maternal and child deaths. But it appreciated as the country moved away from the war years.
In a move that was globally acclaimed, government in 2011 removed fees for pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers and children under five years.
(C) Politico 08/05/14
