Steady-Bongo is a household name in the entertainment industry in Sierra Leone. During his recent visit to the MamaYe office in Freetown, Steady-Bongo committed to promoting the MamaYe campaign with a song about maternal and newborn survival. He told the MamaYe team:
I am very passionate about any issue that affects women and children.
This is so important because Sierra Leone has some of the worst health outcomes for pregnant women and newborns globally. According to the 2013 Demographic and Health Survey, there are 1,165 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 39 newborn deaths per 1,000 live births in Sierra Leone.
The upcoming song on maternal and newborn survival will reach out to the wider public on the importance of safe clinics and the need for more government spending on health.
The singer will produce the song in the popular language ‘Krio’ and it will carry MamaYe key messages on the seven enablers for safe clinics: safe water supply and good sanitation, electricity, skilled staff, lifesaving drugs, equipment, safe blood and other laboratory services, and good ambulance services.
It will also call on the government to provide more funds to support maternal and newborn health.
The MamaYe team are asking for more public support in promoting the campaign. MamaYe is for everyone – Steady-Bongo has come on board, what are you waiting for?