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Title of the event：High-Level Stakeholders’ Coordination Meeting on the Maternal and Child Health Handbook in Sierra Leone

Title of the event：High-Level Stakeholders’ Coordination Meeting on the Maternal and Child Health Handbook in Sierra Leone

Day：2026.05.08

seminar ｜

Overview

Title of the event

High-Level Stakeholders’ Coordination Meeting on the Maternal and Child Health Handbook in Sierra Leone

Date

March 5, 2026

Location

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Moderators and panelists

Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health,
Mr. Morie Momoh, Deputy Financial Secretary, Ministry of Finance,
Mr. Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, Director General, National Civil Registration Authority,
Mrs. Salimatu Koroma, Deputy Director for Formal Education, Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education
Dr. Vandana Joshi, Chief Health & Nutrition, UNICEF Sierra Leone
Mr. Norihito Yonebayashi, Resident Representative, JICA Sierra Leone
Dr. Akiko Hagiwara, Senior Advisor (Health), JICA

Primary objectives and outcomes

The meeting brought together representatives from ministries, agencies, members of parliamentarians, civil society organizations, United Nations agencies and JICA. Participants ascertained their roles for the national implementation of MCH Handbook and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring its sustainability.
The MCH Handbook, developed by the MOH with the technical and financial support of JICA, UNICEF and WHO, underwent a pilot test conducted in selected districts from 2019 to 2021, the Government of Sierra Leone formally adopted the MCH Handbook as a national standard in 2022. The training of health workers is now nearly complete, and the program is ready for nationwide rollout.

Content of the discussions

During the meeting, Dr. Demby, the Minister of Health, emphasized the importance of the MCH Handbook as a core tool of the Government’s 300 Days of Activism and committed to its nationwide dissemination.
Mr. Momoh ,the Ministry of Finance, announced its commitment to prioritizing Maternal and Child Health in the national budget and ensuring predictable financing for the handbook’s continued implementation.
Mr. Massaquoi, the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), also announced that the MCH Handbook will be recognized as a valid document for birth registration.
Mr. Yonebayashi, Resident Representative of the JICA Sierra Leone Office, emphasized that the MCH Handbook serves as an important tool for promoting Universal Health Coverage (UHC) while also encouraging women and families to take an active role in managing their own health. He reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to continuing technical support for the nationwide rollout of the handbook in cooperation with the MOH and relevant stakeholders.
Dr. Joshi, UNICEF, reiterated its commitment to providing continuous support for the national rollout led by the Ministry of Health.
Mrs, Koroma, Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, stated that it would consider recognizing the MCH Handbook as a required document at the time of primary school enrolment.
In the keynote address, Dr. Hagiwara, JICA Senior Advisor for Health, presented global evidence on the effectiveness of the MCH Handbook and shared technical recommendations for sustaining it as a national program, highlighting the need for long-term financial and technical foundation as well as clear management guidelines.
In closing, Dr. Moses, the Reproductive and Child Health Directorate (MOH), stated that these coordinated efforts are essential to ensure that every pregnant woman and newborn in Sierra Leone receives the MCH Handbook and the high-quality of care.
The meeting confirmed strong commitment and collaboration among all stakeholders and marked an important step toward institutionalizing the MCH Handbook as a sustainable national system in Sierra Leone. The meeting also demonstrated the relevance of JICA’s Maternal and Child Health Cluster Strategy, which aims to maximize the impact of JICA programs through collaboration with ministries and development partners.

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