FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, 6 March 2024 - The Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on 5 March 2024, convened a high level meeting to review outcomes of a joint initiative to improve health outcomes for women in Sierra Leone, supported by the Government of China’s Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund.
Launched in January 2020, the four-year initiative has focused on reaching vulnerable women at high risk of maternal mortality and cervical cancer. The review meeting, marking the conclusion of the current project, was jointly convened by the Ministry of Health, UNFPA and the Embassy of China, and led by Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha, Deputy Minister of Health II, and Nadia Rasheed, the UNFPA Country Representative.
The initiative has successfully established cervical cancer screening and treatment services for the first time in public health facilities, providing cancer screenings to nearly 8,000 women. The nine facilities supported in the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer include the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital, Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital in Jui, King Harman Maternal and Child Health Hospital, the Bo and Makeni Government hospitals, and the Lakka Ogoo Farm, Murray Town, Ross Road, and Regent Community Health Centres.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha, praised the south-south cooperation project for its significant contribution to expanding access to life-saving cervical cancer services for women in Sierra Leone. She welcomed the progress made and stated that the initiative has been instrumental in expanding access to cervical cancer services for women in the country in addition to contributing to better-quality emergency obstetric and newborn care services.
The Deputy Minister highlighted that the Government of Sierra Leone has prioritized the elimination of cervical cancer and noted that while the south-south cooperation initiative has laid an important foundation, it is essential to expand and scale-up services to reach all women at risk of cervical cancer.
In her remarks, UNFPA Representative Nadia Rasheed thanked the Government of China for its support and emphasized the importance of the partnership in improving the reproductive health of women and adolescent girls. She noted that the initiative has supported development of key national policies under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, including the National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer and Clinical Guidelines for the Treatment of Cervical Cancer launched in 2023. Ms. Rasheed called for continued efforts to eliminate cervical cancer and ensure the health and well-being of all women and girls.
Mr. Du Zijun, Commercial Counselor at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, noted that China's contribution to the south-south cooperation project has helped in strengthening national capacity to manage cervical cancer and protect women's health. China, he assured, remains committed to supporting Sierra Leone’s efforts towards improved health and wellbeing.
The initiative has also strengthened capacities of health professionals in Sierra Leone to manage cervical cancer through exchange visits between China and Sierra Leone. In August 2023, a team of Chinese medical experts from Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital conducted a 21-day visit to Freetown to train healthcare professionals in cervical cancer management and emergency obstetric care. This was followed by a two-week visit of 12 medical professionals from Sierra Leone to Hunan Province in October 2023 to receive further advanced training.
Following the conclusion of the meeting which was chaired by Dr. Sartie Kenneh, the Chief Medical Officer, a ceremony was held at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital in Jui to handover equipment to the nine health facilities supported by the project. The equipment included a high capacity generator, solar lights, computers, printers, furniture and medical hygiene equipment. The handover of equipment complemented previous support to the nine facilities, including support to renovations and the provision of specialized medical equipment for cervical cancer screening and treatment and emergency obstetric and neonatal care.
The items were received on behalf of the Ministry of Health by Dr. Tom Sesay, Director of Reproductive and Child Health, who expressed the ministry’s gratitude to UNFPA and the Government of China for supporting the country’s efforts to end preventable maternal death. Also present at the ceremony were Nadia Rasheed, Country Representative, UNFPA, Dr. Xia Yinyin, Health Corporation Officer, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Dr. Chen Yougjun, Team Lead of the Chinese Medical Team at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital and Dr. Sarah Conteh, Medical Superintendent, Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, a project beneficiary, Bintu Sengu, passionately expressed gratitude for the initiative’s support to women, sharing that she learned about the free cervical screening services offered in Jui Hospital through a community awareness campaign. She added, “I was pleased to receive a free screening when I visited the facility. I am still appreciative that I was one of the more than 150 physically challenged women who received free cervical cancer screening and treatment.”
