A Global Honour for Local Leadership
Partners In Health (PIH) Sierra Leone’s Isata Dumbuya has been named to TIME’s annual Women of the Year list, recognizing 16 women working toward a better, more equitable world.
Dumbuya’s recognition highlights her pivotal work in Sierra Leone, where she joined PIH in 2018, and currently serves as the director of nursing and midwifery for the reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health program at the Maternal Center of Excellence (MCOE). The list spotlights exceptional women who are trailblazers in their fields. This year’s list will appear in the February 27 issue of TIME and today through its online edition.
“It is an honor to be recognized for work that is truly a collective effort at Partners In Health,” said Dumbuya. “I am so proud and grateful to share this spotlight with the thousands of colleagues, especially the heroic nurses, midwives, and doctors in Sierra Leone, whose unwavering commitment is the foundation of our work. Together, we are proving that health equity is not just a dream but can be a life-saving reality.”
Leading Maternal Health Transformation in Sierra Leone
A highly decorated public health expert, Dumbuya’s professional background includes 25 years of service with the National Health Service in the UK as a nurse, midwife, and public health specialist, before she pivoted her attention to maternal care in Sierra Leone. Her contributions to maternal and child health in Kono District, where she was born, are countless.
Most recently, she played a key leadership role in the launch and development of the MCOE, which officially opened the doors to its first patients on February 14. The MCOE is a state-of-the-art facility providing women and newborns with the care they need and deserve in rural Sierra Leone.
Isata Dumbuya on the Maternal Center of Excellence campus in Sierra Leone on Feb. 25, 2026.
Photo by Sean Andrew Bangura / PIH
Milestones in Dumbuya’s Work with Partners In Health
Over the years, PIH has documented key milestones that reflect the breadth of Dumbuya’s leadership. Below, learn more about her work at PIH:
2019: On the Road in Sierra Leone, Spreading Health and Hope
Dumbuya formed a community outreach team of six clinicians from PIH-supported Koidu Government Hospital (KGH) and nearby Wellbody Clinic, who traveled to all 14 chiefdoms in Kono District to make known the critical care and services available and to empower community members. The profile follows Dumbuya and team on an outreach visit, as they work to strengthen rural health systems and expand access to maternal health care.
2020: Global Affairs Canada Partnership Elevates Rights of Girls in Sierra Leone and Malawi
In a landmark $12M partnership between PIH Canada and Global Affairs Canada, Isata Dumbuya spoke to the transformative impact the initiative would have on women and girls in Kono District — bringing much-needed resources and training to frontline health workers, and raising the standard of maternal and newborn care in Sierra Leone.
2021: Tapestry 2030 Podcast: No Woman or Girl Left Behind
Just in time for International Women’s Day, Isata Dumbuya joined the Tapestry 2030 podcast to share progress on PIH’s five-year “No Woman or Girl Left Behind” project in Kono District, speaking to the real-world impact on women and girls’ health, the challenges of COVID-19, and the power of PIH’s accompaniment approach to strengthening health systems.
2023: In the News: Our Favorite Moments From 2023
One of PIH’s favorite media moments in 2023 was when Dumbuya, alongside Build Health International employees, spoke with the BBC about the significance of the MCOE.
2024: Maternal Center of Excellence: The Future of Dignified Care in Sierra Leone
The longtime vision of the MCOE was becoming closer to reality, as structures—built by a construction team of mostly women—began to take physical shape. “This is women building for women,” Dumbuya said in the article, and expressed excitement for the future.
2025: Video: A New Era for Women – The Maternal Center of Excellence
In this video, hear from Dumbuya and others, as they talk about the MCOE and its groundbreaking investment in mothers, families, and babies. “When you dream and when you believe, and when you have people that believe in you and in that dream, you can accomplish this,” said Dumbuya.
2026: How Staff Are Preparing for the Maternal Center of Excellence’s Opening Day
As the MCOE prepared to open its doors, Dumbuya led intensive staff training and orientation amid the new space and equipment. Alongside colleagues, she ensured training ran smoothly, topics were adequately covered, and staff were fully prepared to be able to deliver high-quality care.
Looking Ahead
Dumbuya remains closely involved in the MCOE’s operations, which officially opened, and will serve as a crucial training center for Sierra Leonean health workers, including doctors, nurses, and midwives. Her recognition as a TIME Women of the Year highlights her pivotal work and ongoing dedication to mothers and babies.
