Why the Kambia Appeal
More women die as a result of pregancy and child birth in Sierre Leone than in almost any other country in the world. In Sierra Leone, maternal mortality is more than 50 times higher than the UK. In the UK 13.4 per 100,0000 women die in childbirth compared to 717 women in Sierra Leone.
The number of women who die in child birth per 100,000 live births
Sierra Leone continues to face one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA, 2024), the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) stands at 717 deaths per 100,000 live births—a figure that remains tragically and unacceptably high.
For context, the UK’s MMR between 2020 and 2022 was 13.4 deaths per 100,000 live births—the highest in two decades but still vastly lower than in Sierra Leone (BMJ, 2024).
Babies born in Sierra Leone are less likely to reach the age of five than almost anywhere else in the world. The infant mortality rate is among the highest globally, reported at approximately 71.2 per 1,000 live births—around 20 times higher than in the UK. This reflects poor access to quality healthcare. Many deaths occur without trained health workers in attendance, and factors such as malnutrition, poor sanitation, preventable infections, and inadequate health facilities further compound the risks.
The broader context of maternal and child health in Sierra Leone is equally stark. A recent Lancet Global Health study reported an estimated neonatal mortality rate of 31.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, resulting in more than 8,000 neonatal deaths in 2020 alone. Over 80% of these deaths were due to preventable causes such as birth asphyxia, sepsis, and complications of prematurity or low birthweight (Lancet Global Health, 2022).
These statistics give the context behind our appeal for funds to assist the Kambia District Health Management Team in their mission to improve the healthcare within one of the most deprived areas of Sierra Leone.
About the Kambia Appeal
The Kambia Appeal has been supporting healthcare initiatives in Sierra Leone’s Kambia District since 1992, with a strong focus on improving maternal and child health.
We work closely with our local partners, the Kambia District Health Management Team (DHMT), responding directly to the needs they identify. Over the years, he Kambia Appeal have supported numerous students in training as Midwives, Community Health Officers (CHOs), and Community Health Assistants (CHAs)—key frontline roles in the country’s health system.
All of these students face overwhelming financial obstacles, not just in covering tuition, but also in managing basic living and travel costs. Inflation, especially in food prices, continues to strain their budgets. Yet, £500 per year remains sufficient to support a student through one year of training—including tuition, essential supplies (excluding laptops or phones), living, and travel expenses.
Remarkably, a full two-year midwifery training course can still be completed for under £1,000 per student.
Support our growth
Donating to our charity is a simple yet impactful way to make a difference in the lives of those in need. By contributing, you join a caring community dedicated to spreading kindness and ensuring that support reaches the right hands.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a life time.”
— Anne Isobella Thackeray Ritchie (1885)