COMMUNIQUÉ
Paediatric Association of Sierra Leone (PASL)
2nd Annual Conference
Theme: Healthy Start, Healthy Future – Strengthening Newborn and Child Health in Sierra Leone
Freetown, Sierra Leone | 29 May 2026
The Paediatric Association of Sierra Leone (PASL) convened its 2nd Annual Conference on 29 May 2026, bringing together Policymakers, Paediatricians, Neonatal Nurses, Midwives, Immunization Experts, Development Partners, Researchers and Civil Society Organizations to review progress and identify priorities for improving newborn and child survival in Sierra Leone.
KEY MESSAGES
- Newborn survival remains a national priority.Although Sierra Leone has made significant progress in reducing child mortality, the neonatal period remains the most vulnerable time for child survival. Preventable deaths from prematurity, birth asphyxia, infections, pneumonia, malaria, diarrhoea and malnutrition continue to pose major challenges.
- Significant gains have been achieved through the Every Newborn Action Plan (SLENAP).The conference recognised the expansion of Special Care Baby Units (SCBUs) from a few facilities in 2017 to nationwide coverage, with increased admissions and improved survival rates among small and sick newborns, demonstrating Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening newborn care services.
- Quality of care must now be the focus.Challenges remain in Kangaroo Mother Care uptake, post-discharge follow-up, referral systems, equipment maintenance, power supply, availability of essential medicines, use of data for continuous quality improvement, and the lack of skilled workforce, adequate patient assessment and adherence to guidelines.
- The ‘Golden Minute’ is critical for newborn survival.Participants emphasised the importance of immediate newborn care and neonatal resuscitation within the first minute after birth. Strengthening Essential Newborn Care Courses and ensuring skilled attendance at delivery were highlighted as cost-effective interventions that can significantly reduce neonatal mortality.
- An ecosystem — not one intervention alone — saves newborns at scale.Obstetricians, Midwives, Neonatal Nurses and Paediatricians are central to newborn survival. The conference highlighted the indispensable role of multidisciplinary teams across the continuum of care — from pregnancy and delivery to postnatal follow-up — and strongly encouraged greater collaboration, mentorship and teamwork.
- The 300 Days of Activism provides an opportunity for accelerated action.Participants endorsed the Government of Sierra Leone’s Triple Zero Agenda:
- Zero preventable maternal deaths
- Zero preventable child deaths
- Zero-dose children
The conference called for translating these commitments into measurable actions at community, facility and district levels.
- Communities are essential partners in child survival.A significant gap exists in the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the general population regarding neonatal and child health care. Community engagement, social and behaviour change communication, early care-seeking, breastfeeding promotion, immunization uptake and timely referral were recognised as critical drivers of improved outcomes.
- Immunization platforms contribute directly to newborn survival.The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was recognised as a strategic platform for protecting newborns, identifying vulnerable children, reducing zero-dose populations and strengthening postnatal follow-up.
RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The Conference resolved to:
- Strengthen quality newborn care services in all SCBUs and maternity units nationwide, including availability of equipment, medicines, vaccines and diagnostics; infrastructure improvements with renewable energy; health information systems (e.g. PikinApp); and a skilled, supported workforce.
- Promote family-centred and mother-baby care, including wider implementation of Kangaroo Mother Care.
- Improve neonatal resuscitation skills through regular training, mentorship and supportive supervision.
- Strengthen referral systems and continuity of care from facility to community.
- Expand research, audit and quality improvement initiatives to generate local evidence for policy and practice.
- Strengthen collaboration between paediatricians, obstetricians, midwives, nurses, EPI teams, civil society and community health workers.
- Increase advocacy for sustainable financing of newborn and child health programmes, including adoption of facilities by private sector champions.
- Enhance community engagement to improve care-seeking behaviour, immunization uptake and recognition of danger signs — using every ANC visit or delivery contact, outreach tracking, defaulter lists and trusted community voices.
- Strengthen mortality surveillance, death reviews and data-driven decision-making at all levels, including joint review of stockouts and referral failures.
- Support full implementation of the Triple Zero Agenda, ensuring no mother, newborn or child is left behind.
- Position PASL to lead the science (implementation research and publication), mentorship of neonatal nurses, midwives and frontline workers, and advocacy for newborns in every policy, budget and hospital boardroom.
- Promote and safeguard the welfare of health care workers in child health, fostering an enabling environment and robust career pathways.
CONCLUSION
The Conference reaffirmed that a healthy future for Sierra Leone begins with a healthy start for every newborn. Participants committed to strengthening partnerships, improving quality of care, advancing research and advocacy, and accelerating action towards ending preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths in Sierra Leone.
Open the link below for the full document.