By Sahr Ibrahim Komba
The UBA Foundation Sierra Leone, in partnership with the Orange Sierra Leone Foundation, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen maternal healthcare delivery and digital inclusion, beginning with the comprehensive rehabilitation of the York Peripheral Health Unit (PHU) Maternity Clinic.
The partnership marks a significant private-sector-led intervention aimed at improving maternal and newborn health outcomes through upgraded infrastructure, modern medical equipment, and stronger community engagement. The initiative aligns with national efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality and advance sustainable development.
Under the agreement, the York PHU Maternity Clinic will be transformed into a modern, state-of-the-art facility. Key areas targeted for intervention include the maternity ward and post-natal ward. Planned upgrades include roofing rehabilitation, new tiling, full repainting of the maternity wing, and the supply of modern hospital equipment, including oxygen systems and resuscitation machines, to ensure a safe, dignified, and welcoming environment for mothers and newborns.
Speaking at th event, Mohamed Alhajie Samoura, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UBA Sierra Leone, reaffirmed UBA’s long-standing commitment to community development and inclusive growth.
“This partnership reflects UBA’s belief that banking must go beyond profit to positively impact lives,” Samoura said. “The rehabilitation of the York PHU Maternity Clinic is not a symbolic gesture but a deliberate, life-saving investment. By improving infrastructure and equipping health workers with modern tools, we are helping to ensure that no mother or child is denied care due to poor facilities or lack of equipment.”
He added that UBA’s intervention is rooted in the philosophy of African capitalism, where the private sector plays a leading role in driving social and economic transformation.
“Across Africa, the UBA Foundation has supported education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and emergency response. From scholarships and national reading initiatives to COVID-19 interventions worth millions of dollars, UBA has consistently demonstrated that sustainable development begins with strong communities,” Samoura noted.
In her statement, Aïcha Touré, Managing Director and CEO of Orange Sierra Leone, described the partnership as a meaningful step toward inclusive healthcare delivery.
“Mothers and newborns deserve care that is safe, respectful, and reliable,” Touré said. “This collaboration with the UBA Foundation will improve the working environment for health professionals and ensure that women in the York community receive quality maternal care in dignity.”
The ceremony also highlighted the role of community-based interventions, including delivery support programmes and maternal support groups implemented by civil society partners. These initiatives have helped thousands of women access skilled care, reduced home deliveries, and built trust between communities and healthcare providers.
In his keynote the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby, commended UBA and Orange for complementing government efforts to transform Sierra Leone’s health system.
“A healthy nation begins with healthy mothers and children,” Dr. Demby said. “Sierra Leone has made remarkable progress in reducing maternal mortality over the years, and partnerships like this are critical to achieving zero preventable maternal and child deaths. The private sector’s support is not just welcome it is essential.”
He emphasized that healthcare transformation must span the entire life cycle, from pregnancy and childbirth to childhood, adolescence, and old age, noting that improved infrastructure, skilled personnel, and community trust are key pillars of success.
The York PHU project follows a monitoring visit in 2025 that identified urgent infrastructure gaps affecting quality maternal care. The rehabilitation is expected to significantly improve service delivery, encourage facility-based births, and enhance patient experience.
Established in 2004, the UBA Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa Group, operating across multiple African countries. In Sierra Leone, the Foundation has since 2020 delivered impactful programmes in education, empowerment, environmental sustainability, and health.
The Orange Sierra Leone Foundation, founded in 2021, focuses on education, women’s empowerment through digital inclusion, and health initiatives, leveraging technology to expand access and opportunity nationwide.
As construction work commences, both foundations reiterated their shared commitment to improving maternal health outcomes, strengthening communities, and ensuring that every mother and child has a safe start to life.
