Murray Town Maternity Ward Reopens After Major Renovation by Sudu

The Murray Town community in Freetown is celebrating a major milestone in improving care for mothers and newborns.

On November 15, 2025, Sudu, an NGO supporting vulnerable children and families, officially handed over the newly renovated Murray Town Maternity Ward to the community and local health workers. The project was made possible through the generous support of MusCare and Friends of Sierra Leone.

The maternity unit is made up of three main compartments, a ward, a labour room, and an office. As part of the renovation, the centre received three new postnatal beds and two modern delivery beds, giving health workers the basic tools they need to provide safer and more comfortable

care.

Side view of the renovated Murray Town Maternity Ward

The renovation arrives at a critical time for Sierra Leone, a country that continues to face one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Each year, the Murray Town facility receives more than 1,000 mothers and babies, despite previously operating in unsafe and deteriorated conditions.

New postnatal beds at the Murray Town Maternity Ward

Before the renovation, the maternity ward was in such a poor condition that pregnant women were often forced to leave their community in search of safer care. Many described the situation as frightening and stressful especially for women in labour who had to travel long distances to give birth.

Sudu has worked in Murray Town since 2019, supporting foster families and training local households. After witnessing the state of the maternity centre, the organisation realised that improving the facility was essential to protecting children and mothers from the very start of life.

With funding from MusCare, Sudu began a full rehabilitation of the building, repairing the structure and creating a safer, cleaner space for childbirth. Friends of Sierra Leone supported the project further by providing new equipment, including modern delivery beds and postnatal beds items the centre had gone without for years.

Government officials, community leaders, health workers and partners attended the handover ceremony, marking the end of months of work and the beginning of a new chapter for maternal health in the area. Community Health Workers, midwives and nurses expressed relief and gratitude, saying the updated space will allow them to provide better and more dignified care.

New modern delivery beds at the Murray Town Maternity

The journey to this moment began earlier this year when Sudu, MusCare, and the community set a fundraising target of $7,450. Work officially kicked off after a small ceremony on September 20, 2025, which brought together Sudu staff, local authorities and facility heads. Their collaboration made the project possible and now serves as an example of what community-led development can achieve.

Handing over ceremony of the Murray Town Maternity Ward

Sudu says the success of the Murray Town Maternity Ward renovation shows the power of partnerships and community involvement. The organisation hopes to take on more projects that improve the safety and wellbeing of families across Sierra Leone.

To learn more about Sudu’s work or to support upcoming projects, visit www.sudusalone.org