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Report

Pregnant women and girls in Sierra Leone face continuing challenges in gaining access to maternal health care services. Despite important reforms initiated over the last two years, including a free health care policy covering pregnancy and childbirth, the health care system is dysfunctional and much remains to be done. In this report, Amnesty International examines how gaps in monitoring and accountability are undermining the success of the recent health care reforms, in particular free access to essential drugs in pregnancy and childbirth.

September 5, 2011

Report

Head of state and government: Ernest Bai Koroma Death penalty: retentionist Population: 5.8 million Life expectancy: 48.2 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 160/136 per 1,000 Adult literacy: 39.8 per cent The government continued to rebuild institutions and infrastructure in the wake of the civil war, promoting development and providing basic health and education. In an effort to reduce the high rate of maternal mortality, the government introduced a free health care policy for pregnant and lactating women and for children under five. Despite some progress however, the country continued to suffer from widespread poverty-related violations of socio-economic rights; a high incidence…

June 16, 2011

Report

Head of state and government Ernest Bai Koroma Death penalty retentionist Population 5.7 million Life expectancy 47.3 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 160/136 per 1,000 Adult literacy 38.1 per cent Violence erupted in March between supporters of the ruling All People's Congress (APC) and the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), during which people were seriously injured and there were allegations of rape and other sexual assaults. Sexual and gender-based violence against women continued, including harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM). The government made efforts to reduce the high rate of maternal mortality. Background Political violence erupted between…

March 19, 2011