A Mother’s Commitment

Wokie Sambala’s Journey to Protect Her Children’s Future

Wokie Sambala, 28, Mother, with her youngest baby. Wokie, currently on maternity leave, is dedicated to staying home until her baby can walk. As a mother of three, she emphasises the importance of health and wellness for her children. Wokie is taking her youngest child to the Sinje Health Center for vaccinations, highlighting her commitment to ensuring that her children receive the necessary healthcare to grow strong and healthy.
UNICEF/ Liberia 2024/Vincent Tremeau
25 February 2025

In a quiet street of Sinje, Liberia, Wokie Sambala gently cradles her baby daughter, Princess, as she waits outside her home, ready to go to the Sinje Health Center. At 28 years old, Wokie is a mother of three and currently on maternity leave. For her, motherhood is a responsibility she embraces wholeheartedly.

“I want to stay home with my baby until she can walk,” Wokie says, a soft smile crossing her face. “These early moments are important for her health and bonding.”

5 August 2024. Sinje village, Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia. Wokie brings her youngest child to the Sinje Health Center for vaccinations, demonstrating her commitment to ensuring her child's health and well-being. Currently on maternity leave, she emphasises the importance of health care for her children, showing that she understands the critical role vaccinations play in protecting them from preventable diseases.
UNICEF/ Liberia 2024/ Vincent Tremeau
5 August 2024. Sinje Health Center, Sinje village, Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia. Wokie Sambala, 28, waits for her consultation to get vaccination for her baby daughter.  Wokie brings her youngest child to the Sinje Health Center for vaccinations, demonstrating her commitment to ensuring her child's health and well-being. Currently on maternity leave, she emphasises the importance of health care for her children, showing that she understands the critical role vaccinations play in protecting them from pre
UNICEF/ Liberia 2024/ Vincent Tremeau
5 August 2024. Sinje Health Center, Sinje village, Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia. Wokie Sambala, 28, waits for her consultation to get vaccination for her baby daughter.  Wokie brings her youngest child to the Sinje Health Center for vaccinations, demonstrating her commitment to ensuring her child's health and well-being. Currently on maternity leave, she emphasises the importance of health care for her children, showing that she understands the critical role vaccinations play in protecting them from pre
UNICEF/ Liberia 2024/ Vincent Tremeau

Today, Wokie is at the health centre to ensure her youngest child receives routine vaccinations. With her baby in her arms, she navigates the short but critical journey to the facility, a place she considers vital to her family’s well-being.

5 August 2024. Sinje Health Center, Sinje village, Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia. Wokie Sambala, 28.  Wokie brings her youngest child to the Sinje Health Center for vaccinations, demonstrating her commitment to ensuring her child's health and well-being. Currently on maternity leave, she emphasises the importance of health care for her children, showing that she understands the critical role vaccinations play in protecting them from preventable diseases.
UNICEF/ Liberia 2024/ Vincent Tremeau

The Importance of Health and Wellness

As a mother, Wokie prioritises the health of all her children. She knows that proper immunisation protects them from life-threatening diseases, giving them the best chance to thrive. “Vaccines are important,” she says confidently. “They help my children grow strong and healthy, and I never want them to suffer from preventable illnesses.”

At the Sinje Health Center, Wokie has found a reliable source of care for her children. The centre provides free vaccinations and health check-ups, supported by UNICEF to ensure essential services reach families like Wokie’s.

5 August 2024. Sinje village, Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia. Wokie brings her youngest child to the Sinje Health Center for vaccinations, demonstrating her commitment to ensuring her child's health and well-being. Currently on maternity leave, she emphasises the importance of health care for her children, showing that she understands the critical role vaccinations play in protecting them from preventable diseases.
UNICEF/ Liberia 2024/ Vincent Tremeau

A Ripple Effect of Care

Wokie’s journey is one of many in Liberia, where maternal and child health initiatives are making a profound difference. Thanks to UNICEF’s partnership with local health centres, mothers like Wokie can access vaccinations, prenatal care, and guidance on nurturing their children’s development.

“Knowing that I have a place to go gives me peace of mind,” Wokie shares. She credits the availability of these services with helping her children grow without major health concerns.

As she prepares to leave the health centre, Wokie looks at her baby with hope. “I want them all to have bright futures,” she says. “Good health is the start of everything.”

5 August 2024. Sinje village, Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia. Wokie Sambala, 28, Mother, with ehr children, at home. Wokie, currently on maternity leave, is dedicated to staying home until her baby can walk. As a mother of three, she emphasises the importance of health and wellness for her children. Wokie is taking her youngest child to the Sinje Health Center for vaccinations, highlighting her commitment to ensuring that her children receive the necessary healthcare to grow strong and healthy.
UNICEF/ Liberia 2024/ Vincent Tremeau

A Future Built on Health

Wokie’s story is a testament to the power of accessible healthcare. Through her determination and the support of centres like Sinje, families across Liberia are building healthier lives for the next generation. UNICEF’s commitment to maternal and child health continues to ensure that every mother, like Wokie, has the resources she needs to protect her children’s future.

For Wokie, her role as a mother is clear: to be there for her children, ensuring they are cared for, protected, and given the best chance at life. 

“A healthy child is a happy child,” she says, cradling her baby close. “And that’s all I want for them.”