The First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mrs. Sia Nyama Koroma, has on Tuesday 9th March 2010, hosted the Committee Members on Accelerated Reduction on Maternal Mortality in Africa Sierra Leone (CORMMASIL). The delegation briefed the First Lady of the objectives of CORMMASIL.

Dr. Sarian Kamara indicated that CORMMASIL was formed at the 12th African Union of Heads of States. She stated that the objective was to campaign for an accelerated reduction in maternal mortality and further create and maintain awareness on the issues.

By 2011, Dr Sarian Kamara continued, the committee pledges to increase awareness and increase the allocation of funds and resources for reproductive health including family planning.

She stressed that Sierra Leone has the criteria to launch CORMMASIL against the background of her high level of maternal mortality and low gender development index.

Addressing committee members at the Presidential Lodge Hill Station, the First Lady Republic of Sierra Leone, Mrs. Sia Nyama Koroma said: “I am sure that you are aware that I am prepared to join you to continue to address the problem of maternal mortality in Sierra Leone”.

She went on: “When I speak of fighting maternal mortality in Sierra Leone, I speak as First Lady of the nation, a mother, and a professional nurse, and I strongly believe that it is our collective duty to save lives”.

The First Lady stressed: “It is imperative that we must join hands to build a better health system in Sierra Leone and ensure no woman dies while giving life”.

She said her office has championed the distribution of baby packs in hospitals and the introduction of health insurance schemes in remote areas up country to help improve the quality of the delivery service.  Her Excellency Mrs. Sia Koroma admonished the committee to continue the work with the aim of making the problem a thing of the past.

She pledged her continued commitment and support and further spoke of her husband’s political will to ensure the committee succeeds to achieve the goal.

She thanked UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for supporting the efforts of her office.