Supporting health systems strengthening to improve reproductive and child health, Sierra Leone

Options led the programme of support to Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation to improve reproductive and child health outcomes. Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation focused on the development of reproductive and child health to lead the transformation of its health system and represent a commitment to transform mothers’ and children’s lives and work towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals. We supported improvements to the financing, management and delivery of health services to ensure the achievement of the national Reproductive and Child Health Strategic Plan to reduce the maternal, under 5 and infant mortality rates.

Project achievements:

• Strengthened the stewardship role of the government of Sierra Leone. This improved the planning, coordination and monitoring and evaluation of the national Reproductive and Child Health Strategic Plan, including how its resources were allocated centrally and across the 12 districts Sierra Leone’s 12 districts.
• Strengthened human resource management. Improved staff performance management through development of sanctions and a code of conduct to tackle absenteeism.
• Maintained the integrity of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation payroll of over 7,000 employees.
• Hired over 1,400 new recruits at district level to improve functionality of health facilities.
• Worked with Ministry of Health and Sanitation, local government, district health teams and partners to achieve functional emergency obstetric and neonatal care facilities across the country.
• Developed mechanisms to give citizens a voice in monitoring delivery of free healthcare services.