Sierra Leone is poised to make history on Friday, July 25, 2025, as it prepares to host the official launch of Africa’s first Uterine Health Fund (UHF), a pioneering initiative that aims to transform uterine and reproductive health care across the continent. The launch will take place at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Spearheaded by Youterus Health, the UHF seeks to channel blended financing into the diagnosis, treatment and research of uterine health issues; an area often overlooked in mainstream health policy despite its impact on millions of African women.

The event, described by organizers as marking “a new era for uterine and reproductive health in Africa,” will bring together leading voices from policy, clinical practice, technology and civil society in a united call to address what they deem a long-ignored public health crisis.

Hon. Mariama Zombo, who will officially open the event, is expected to deliver a powerful keynote speech highlighting the personal and systemic costs of neglecting uterine health. “We legislate budgets for maternal care every year, yet the uterus remains a blind spot in public policy,” she stated ahead of the launch.

Her sentiments are echoed by Dr. Frances Wurie, a leading clinician who will share frontline insights from hospital floors. “Delayed fibroid diagnoses rob women of their livelihoods well before they threaten their lives. It’s time for our health systems to catch up,” she said.

The launch will also underscore the urgent need for data-driven decision-making. “We can’t fix what we don’t count,” emphasized Professor Charles Senessie, who will advocate for greater investment in long-term research to accurately map the burden of uterine diseases in Africa.

Private sector innovation is also set to play a central role. Tech entrepreneur David Tamba Abdulai Kpakima will showcase how mobile imaging and micro-insurance solutions can dismantle longstanding access barriers for women in remote and underserved areas.

Julie Otieno, the architect behind the UHF's blended-finance model, will offer a comprehensive overview of how the fund will mobilize resources from Government, philanthropy and private investment to ensure scalable, sustainable impact.

At the heart of the initiative is founder Fatou Wurie, who says the goal is to shift public discourse around uterine health “from hush to headline.” She describes the event as a holistic dialogue that integrates policy, clinical science, grassroots advocacy and cultural expression.

The day’s program will also feature a musical performance by celebrated artist Lala Sidibe and remarks from UN Resident Coordinator Seraphine Wakana, who hailed the fund as “a blueprint for meeting Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 5 in one stroke.”

While the event will host a select audience of health professionals, investors and civil society representatives, organizers hope its impact will resonate well beyond the conference hall.

“If we anchor uterine health at the centre of national planning,” Fatou Wurie concluded, “we don’t just alleviate pain; we empower women and rewrite the future of African health systems.” https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/sierra-leone-to-launch-africas-first-uterine-health-fund-today/