The Neonatal Care Guidelines and Standards provide a comprehensive framework for the safe and effective management of newborns within paediatric and maternity services across Sierra Leone. These guidelines outline the essential clinical principles and protocols required to ensure that every newborn receives timely, evidence-based, and compassionate care from birth.
The standards cover key aspects of neonatal management, including immediate newborn assessment and resuscitation, early identification and management of complications, infection prevention and control, thermal protection, safe feeding practices, monitoring of growth and development, and clear referral pathways for specialised care when required. Emphasis is placed on early intervention, continuity of care, and coordinated teamwork among healthcare providers to improve outcomes.
Aligned with the national policies of the Ministry of Health and international best practices, these guidelines aim to promote uniformity in neonatal care delivery across health facilities. By standardising procedures and reinforcing quality assurance mechanisms, they help minimise preventable errors and ensure that care is delivered consistently, regardless of location.
Through adherence to these standards, we are committed to reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality, strengthening health system capacity, and supporting healthy growth and development from the very first days of life. Ultimately, these guidelines contribute to the broader national goal of safeguarding newborn health and giving every child the strongest possible start in life.
