Access to healthcare in Sierra Leone is limited, particularly in rural areas. The country has a very low doctor-to-patient ratio, with only 0.2 doctors per 10,000 people. Many healthcare facilities are poorly equipped and staffed, and access to essential medicines is often limited.
According to the World Health Organization, Sierra Leone has some of the highest rates of maternal and child mortality in the world, with one in 17 women dying from pregnancy-related causes and one in seven children dying before their fifth birthday. This is largely due to a lack of access to basic healthcare services such as prenatal care, skilled birth attendants, and vaccinations.