The Paul E. Farmer Maternal Center of Excellence — Sierra Leone's first-ever NICU — opened its doors on Valentine's Day 2026. And its very first patient? A healthy baby girl.

The hospital exists because of John and Hank Green, the brothers behind the massively popular YouTube channel Vlogbrothers, the annual Project for Awesome charity event, and bestselling books like The Fault in Our Stars. Together, through fundraisers, their online shop, and personal donations, they contributed $50 million to build a world-class maternal health facility in one of the countries that needs it most.

The Crisis This Hospital Addresses

Sierra Leone consistently ranks among the worst places in the world for maternal mortality. In 2020, 1 in 52 women in Sierra Leone died during pregnancy or childbirth. For comparison, the rate in the United States was 1 in 3,800, and in the United Kingdom, 1 in 5,200.

Before this hospital, there was no neonatal intensive care unit in the entire country. Premature and critically ill newborns simply had nowhere to go. That changes now.

Named for a Legend

The hospital is named after Dr. Paul Farmer, the legendary physician and humanitarian who dedicated his life to bringing quality healthcare to the world's poorest communities. Farmer, who co-founded Partners in Health, passed away in 2022 — but his mission lives on in every baby that takes its first breath in this hospital.

From YouTube to Real-World Impact

What started in 2019 as a fundraising goal has become one of the most remarkable examples of internet communities creating tangible, lifesaving change. The Nerdfighter community (as Green brothers fans call themselves) has shown that collective action, sustained over years, can literally build hospitals.

The facility is equipped with modern medical technology, trained staff, and the capacity to provide critical care that was previously unavailable anywhere in Sierra Leone.

Source: Good Good Good