Sierra Leone

Since 2000, JSI has applied its commitment to and expertise in public health to help the Sierra Leone government strengthen its health system. With a deep understanding of the issues and evidence-based approaches, JSI has responded to local challenges and emerging public health needs ever since.

Through the Country Health Information Systems and Data Use (CHISU) project (2020–2026), we are strengthening governance to steward the health information system. CHISU is supporting implementation of digitized supportive supervision, interoperability of systems across the health sector, and assessment and enhancement of the community health information system’s digital platform. Through CHISU, we are also working with the National Malaria Control Program to improve surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation.

A major area of our work in the country focuses on improving maternal and child health outcomes. From 2012 through 2019, JSI implemented the USAID-funded Advancing Partners & Communities Activity, which improved access to and quality of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services. This work continued gains made under the USAID-funded Basic Support for Institutionalizing Child Survival program, which provided essential nutrition and health commodities to newborns from 2005 to 2014.

Our partnerships in Sierra Leone have inspired progress and guided change in the health sector. In addition to our work with the Ministry of Health, we’ve partnered with the Institute of Reproductive Health for Refugees to provide reproductive health and gender-based violence prevention and care services among displaced persons within the country. We’ve also worked with schools of medicine, midwifery, and nursing; professional associations; government ministries; and regulatory bodies to improve the quality of health professional education through the Resilient and Responsive Health Organization project.

Through these collaborations, we develop and implement sustainable ways to improve public health. JSI has rehabilitated health facilities, strengthened demand for services; improved data systems; built staff capacity at all levels of the health system, and involved communities in solution design and development.