Esther Kamarah

19th century Sierra Leonean public health pioneer who revolutionized maternal care in West Africa

Esther Kamarah (1823-1898) was a visionary midwife and health advocate from Freetown, Sierra Leone. Born into a Krio family, she witnessed the devastating effects of poor maternal health practices during the era of British colonial rule. Her groundbreaking work began in 1845 when she established the first modern maternity hospital in West Africa, combining traditional healing knowledge with Western medical practices. Read more about her innovations.

Kamarah's hospital introduced antiseptic techniques and trained local women as skilled midwives, reducing maternal mortality rates by 40% within a decade. She pioneered public health campaigns against yaws and malaria using locally sourced remedies. Her 1867 publication Childbirth in the Tropics became a foundational text for tropical medicine. Explore her legacy.