‘The Fault in Our Stars’ author John Green helped fund a maternity centre in Sierra Leone; 13 babies born in first 24 hours

When a new maternity centre opened in Sierra Leone in February 2026, its first day brought a striking measure of demand for care: 27 patients arrived and 13 babies were born within 24 hours. The facility, supported by bestselling author John Green, his brother Hank Green and their families and supporters, was built to expand access to specialised maternal and newborn healthcare in a country that continues to face serious challenges in preventing deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth.The Paul E. Farmer Maternal Center of Excellence opened to patients on February 14, 2026, on the campus of Koidu Government Hospital in Kono District. According to Partners In Health (PIH), the nonprofit organisation supporting the project, seven of the 13 babies born during the centre’s first 24 hours were delivered by caesarean section, while six were born vaginally. The opening marked the transition from years of planning and construction to providing inpatient care for women and newborns.How John Green became involvedGreen, best known for writing 'The Fault in Our Stars', became involved in the maternal health initiative after learning about the challenges facing women in Sierra Leone. Accordin...