Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) causes 41% of all maternal deaths in Sierra Leone and remains the largest cause of maternal deaths worldwide. Over 90% of all deaths from PPH are preventable.

In 2022/2023, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and The Mama-Pikin Foundation conducted a pilot program to introduce the effective new medications Heat-Stable Carbetocin (HSC) to prevent PPH and Tranexamic Acid (TXA) to treat PPH in Sierra Leone, with support from the Concept Foundation.

Over the past two days, the Mama-Pikin Foundation, in collaboration with WHO Sierra Leone, supported the MOH to convene 56 doctors, midwives, nurses, pharmacists, and public health professionals for a Stakeholder’s Adaptation & Validation Workshop. This workshop aimed to review and finalize the National Guidelines and Training Package for the use of HSC & TXA in Sierra Leone.

The MOH plans to implement these lifesaving medications in all health facilities across the country this year, and the Mama-Pikin Foundation will support them in training healthcare workers nationwide.

This initiative was made possible through support from MSD for Mothers, FCDO, CHAI, and RHSC via the Catalytic Opportunity Fund for the introduction and scale-up of new and lesser-used postpartum hemorrhage medicines.