Empowering Nurses and Midwives: Sierra Leone Launches Game-Changing Health Workforce Tools 

The Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone, in partnership with Seed Global Health and other stakeholders, will today (May 14) launch the Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan, Scope of Practice for Nursing and Midwifery, and the Midwifery Procedure Manual at the ministry offices in Freetown. 

Since 2022, Seed has been working closely with the Directorate of Nursing and Midwifery Services, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and midwifery schools across the country to develop the Scope of Practice for Nursing and Midwifery and the Midwifery Procedure Manual.   

From the very beginning of Seed’s partnership with the Sierra Leonean government in 2019, it was clear that defining a formal scope of practice – something that previously didn’t exist – would be a game-changer for professionalizing the nursing and midwifery workforce. 

“The scope of practice is more than a policy tool,” says Julie Mann, Seed’s associate director of midwifery. “It ensures that midwives and nurses are empowered, protected, and equipped to make critical decisions within a clear set of competencies. It also improves consistency in the quality of care, making the health system more efficient and ultimately improving outcomes for mothers, new-borns, and families.” 

Alongside the scope framework, the midwifery procedure manual provides health workers with practical guidance on essential clinical procedures. This vital resource bridges the gap between training and practice, ensuring care that is evidence-based, safe, and responsive to the needs of Sierra Leoneans. Both documents will be published, printed, and distributed nationwide, ensuring access for health workers, educators, and policymakers.  

The launch of these key resources comes at a time when Sierra Leone is making notable progress in maternal health. In April 2025, Minister of Health Dr. Austin Demby announced that the country’s maternal mortality rate had declined from 443 to 354 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2020 and 2023, with a goal to reduce it to less than 300 by 2025.  

Mustapha Sonnie, Seed’s country director, believes the scope of practice and procedure manual will strengthen the midwifery and nursing professions in Sierra Leone, ultimately contributing to further reductions in maternal and new-born mortality. 

“We strongly believe that midwives and nurses are a powerful force for change when they are skilled and well-resourced,” said Mustapha, adding that the publication of these tools is a major step forward in strengthening the country’s health workforce.

The launch of these essential resources is especially timely, as it takes place just ahead of the third annual Health Summit, running from May 15–17, under the theme “Improving Health Outcomes for All: Every Sierra Leonean Matters.”