No Woman Should Die Giving Birth
Partners In Health is transforming maternal care in Kono District with the Paul E. Farmer Maternal Center of Excellence (MCOE), built in partnership with Build Health International and Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health—a state-of-the-art facility expanding lifesaving care for mothers and newborns.
John Green, PIH trustee and bestselling author, along with his brother Hank and the Nerdfighteria community, are helping expand lifesaving work in Sierra Leone. After visiting Koidu Government Hospital in 2018, John and his wife, Sarah, were inspired by the vision for the MCOE and pledged to help make it a reality.
The Greens launched a grassroots campaign, dedicated to raising $25 million through storytelling, creativity, and ventures like the Good Store to rally millions around health equity, proving that long-term challenges demand long-term commitment.
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In Sierra Leone, women face a 1 in 74 lifetime risk of dying in childbirth. The MCOE is changing that.
The MCOE: Building a Legacy of Care
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Built in Partnership
Planning for the MCOE began in 2017 at Koidu Government Hospital—once short on power and supplies, now equipped with 24/7 electricity, stocked pharmacies, and skilled staff.
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The Greens Join the Fight
A 2017 New Yorker story lit the spark. After visiting Kono, John and Sarah Green—along with Hank and Katherine—committed to advancing maternal health through advocacy.
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A Facility Unlike Any Other
In partnership with Build Health International, every detail was designed for dignified, high-quality care. The MCOE includes a NICU, piped oxygen, and healing spaces.
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Breaking New Ground
Construction began in April 2021 with a promise: to build a place where mothers and newborns receive the care they need—and the future they deserve—built by local hands.
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Doors Open to Patients
In 2026, the MCOE will begin providing inpatient care—expanding services to save lives and strengthen Sierra Leone’s maternal health system for generations to come.
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Shaping the Future
This isn’t just a new facility—it marks a new era for Kono District, where data, evidence, and community care drive lasting progress in maternal health year after year.
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