Sierra Leone and Turkey have signed a protocol to build and furnish the Emine Erdoğan Mother and Child Hospital in Bo City. The project aims to significantly improve maternal and child health services in the country. Sierra Leone’s Office of the President and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) signed an agreement to strengthen diplomatic and development ties, aligning with President Julius Maada Bio’s Human Capital Development agenda.
The new facility, covering approximately 2,000 square metres, will be designed as a modern, specialised centre for mothers and newborns. Emergency services, fully equipped operating theatres, specialised obstetric units, advanced neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), antenatal and postnatal wards, and dedicated health professional training facilities are all included in the design. Officials say the hospital will provide direct clinical services and on-site professional training to help Sierra Leonean doctors, midwives, and other health workers improve their skills.
At the signing ceremony, the Secretary to the President welcomed guests and described the initiative as another step in the government’s efforts to strengthen the national healthcare system. TİKA Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Mirzet Müezzinoğlu, reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to equitable healthcare, stating that sustainable development “begins with the well-being of mothers and children.” He also stated that the partnership will include significant capacity-building components to transfer skills and knowledge to local health professionals.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health referred to the agreement as “a declaration of hope, dignity, and life,” emphasising the project’s moral imperative: “No mother should die while giving birth, and no child should be denied access to quality healthcare.” Yusuf Burak Rende, Turkey’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, described the hospital as a historic symbol of friendship, solidarity, and common development goals between the two countries.
First Lady Fatima Maada Bio, whose vision for better maternal and child health sparked the project, described the protocol as “the signing of a dream” that will save lives and restore hope to thousands of families. She thanked Turkey’s First Lady, Emine Erdoğan, for her support and the Inspector General of Police for providing land for construction.
Government and Turkish officials emphasised that the initiative goes beyond physical structures: it aims to strengthen health systems, provide training opportunities, and promote people-centred service delivery. The project is expected to strengthen cooperation between Sierra Leone and Turkey in healthcare and infrastructure development, indicating a long-term partnership aimed at improving health outcomes for Sierra Leone’s mothers and children.
