International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) cannot help Sierra Leone reduce its high maternal mortality rate, a leading doctor has claimed.

Speaking to VOA News, Dr Ibrahim Thorlie, chief medical officer of the Princess Christian Maternity and Child Health clinic in East End, Freetown, said TBAs are not sufficiently skilled to manage difficult or obstructed births.

He said the government should stop training the attendants and invest more in the provision of expert medical professionals and midwives.

However, TBA supervisor Mohammed Masere disagreed with the comments, claiming they are "extreme".

"At primary healthcare level, TBAs have a role to play because they are closer to the people in the community. They do deliveries, cases that are unable to reach the health facilities on time," he explained.

He claimed they are doing "a good job", especially in remote villages with poor transport links.

Last week, Irene Khan, the secretary-general of Amnesty International, claimed that one in eight women risks dying during pregnancy or childbirth in Sierra Leone.