By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter, D.S.
Sierra Leone has taken a significant step in the global fight against preventable child deaths by participating in the Innovation and Action for Immunization and Child Survival Forum 2025. This high-level conference, hosted by the governments of Mozambique and Sierra Leone in partnership with Spain, “la Caixa” Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and UNICEF, aims to accelerate access to essential vaccines across sub-Saharan Africa.
The forum convenes key health leaders, policymakers, philanthropists, and researchers, focusing on transformative strategies that can redefine child survival initiatives on the continent. “It is time for a bold new continental movement that redefines the way we approach child survival in Africa, for a more prosperous, peaceful, and productive Africa,” stated Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health, during the opening ceremony.
Dr. Demby highlighted Sierra Leone’s commitment to child health, noting a remarkable reduction in under-five mortality rates, which have decreased by 53%, and neonatal mortality, which has fallen by 38% since 2010. The government has pledged to introduce dedicated budget lines in the fiscal year 2025 to co-finance new vaccines, including the malaria vaccine. Despite these advancements, Sierra Leone still grapples with one of the highest under-five mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa, exacerbated by over 50% out-of-pocket health expenditure.
The forum also addressed the serious implications of recent global funding cuts to public health programs, particularly immunization efforts. These reductions are particularly detrimental in fragile and conflict-affected regions, where children are nearly three times more likely to die before their fifth birthday.
Discussions emphasized the urgent need to scale up innovative health solutions, diagnostic tools, and nutritional programs, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. Speakers advocated for strengthening service delivery through integrated health platforms, community health worker initiatives, and digital tools, alongside sustainable financing strategies.
“Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy and thrive,” stated Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, Director of Health at UNICEF. “By investing in robust primary health-care systems and ensuring equitable access to life-saving care, we can save millions of young lives and foster stronger families and communities.”
The Immunization and Child Survival Forum 2025 serves as a vital platform for collaboration among stakeholders from sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, including senior health officials, development agencies, donors, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
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