Sierra Leone has a critical shortage of midwives. Populated by more than 7.8 million people, the country only has 1000 midwives - one-third of the number it actually needs. This shortage is the most significant cause of high maternal mortality. In 2019 they began a project with hands-on training, ensuring new graduates a month-long practical placement at the Aberdeen Women’s Centre under the guidance of experienced midwives. To build capacity, this program includes training midwives to also become midwife educators.

Sierra Leone has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the world made worse by the 66% rise in teenage pregnancy during the Ebola crisis. The need for a program that would deliver babies of such young mothers safely whilst providing health education, pre and post-natal care and a pathway back to school or a job was evident.The Dream Team project has to date supported 600 of these girls and their babies. We are expecting another surge in teenage pregnancies due to the COVID-19 crisis. The continuation of our services for this highly vulnerable group are critical. Many of these girls face social and economic problems and the Aberdeen Women’s Centre provides support to re-integrate them to their communities post birth.

Obstetric fistula most commonly occurs among women who live in low-resource countries, who give birth without access to medical help. If a woman’s labor becomes obstructed, she could remain in excruciating pain for days before her baby is finally dislodged. Her baby likely dies and she is often left with an obstetric fistula, a small hole created by constant pressure from the fetus, which renders her incontinent.The Foundation works closely with the Aberdeen Women's Centre that takes a holistic approach to the care of women and children and in 2010 opened its own maternity unit to provide the highest standards of maternal healthcare for the women of Sierra Leone, thus preventing the occurrence of obstetric fistula in the first instance and ensuring a safe environment for childbirth.