Top Photo: Manley Jongopie, RHCI In-Country Director
Pictures above left to right: Mohamed Momoh (Driver), Mohamed Kalokoh (Driver), Mohamed Kabba (Outreach Coordinator), Mohamed Fatorma (Security), Josephine Wilberforce (Senior Midwife), Patrick Vandy (Garden manager), Bobson Kamara (Head of Security), Allieu Jongopie (Technical and Financial Administrator), Juliana Sagba (Nurse and Educator), Mohamed John (Security), Joseph Sogbandi (Gondama Outreach, not pictured).
RHCI’s hard-working Sierra Leone Staff members have made our 2019 accomplishments possible. This is truly a team effort, with our mutual goal of overcoming maternal and child mortality in Sierra Leone. Pictured above are the full time staff. Many part-time Community Health Workers are also employed at the Mbaomi Mothers’ Home.
Tikonko, Kassama and Sembehun catchments areas
- Mbaomi Mothers’ home –ongoing operations serving approximately 200 pregnant and post-partum women and babies; No maternal deaths. In January, survey of CHW’s and women who stayed at Mbaomi was done and showed favorable results. Covered walk-way from home to latrine and triage building constructed.
- Transportation for pregnant and post-partum women, RHCI staff, and critically ill children; Purchase of used Toyota Land Cruiser to be used as a back-up to the Toyota Hilux
- Motorbike Outreach clinic in Tikonko CHC Catchment area every Friday to Dodo, Lembema, Sunga and Gbalehun; Approximately 40-60 people treated each week.
- RHCI staff participated in Measles and Rubella Immunization campaign with the Tikonko CHC
- Tikonko CHC Community Health Workers training (CHW): Helping Babies Breathe program in January
- Kassama and Sembehun CHW 3 ½ week training with Midwives on Missions of Service in Feb/March
- Childhood malnutrition program (Positive Deviance/Hearth) in Julian and Surgbehun
- Supplying food for pregnant women staying at Kassama and Sembehun Health Units; and continued monthly support for medication and supplies
- Once a month OB ultrasound contract with Mercy Hospital in Bo
- Large vegetable garden and fruit orchard at Mbaomi Mothers’ Home in production
- Support for three Farmer Based Organizations (Tikonko, Julian, and Kpetkema)
- Addition of 4 more sewing machines (6 total) for the Tailoring program at Mbaomi Mothers’ Home
- Family Planning program started at the outreach motoribike clinics with Juliana Sagba
- Annual employee evaluation and employee training session
Gondama Catchment Areas
- Development of relationship between RHCI leadership and Gondama CHC staff and community leaders
- Purchase of Motorbike and hiring of Joseph Sogbandi to work in the Gondama catchment area
- In November, Motorbike Outreach clinic in partnership with Gondama CHC started
- Plans in place to rebuild and re-open Gondama Birth Waiting Home in 2020; grant received and construction started in December
In Minnesota:
- Communications project: New Website and messaging; New Logo, mission statement and tagline
- Maggie Pilacinski’s contract position for event planning and fund development
- Board development, two new board members and annual strategic planning meeting
- Successful Events: Taste of Africa; Bowling at Elsie’s; Global Health Roundtable; Expanding Our Roots dinner
- 6 regular board meetings
- Grants received: Berglund Family Foundation ($7850); Christ the King Lutheran Church ($2500); US Embassy in Sierra Leone ($6050); Improving Chances Foundation ($6000); Catholic Family Foundation and Palen Family ($5000); Concannon Family Foundation ($5000); Petrie Family Trust ($15,000); three grants pending.
- Gondama Task Force meets monthly to develop Motorbike clinic, Birth Waiting Home, and plans for OB ultrasound.
- Agriculture Committee- connecting with Njala University and extension program; Plans in progress.
- 13 barrels and three large suitcases of medical supplies, baby and post-partum kits and tailoring materials shipped in 2019
In Sierra Leone:
In January 2019, six volunteers from MN traveled to Tikonko, Sierra Leone to build relationships, meet with our partners to develop programs, do monitoring and evaluation, inventories, employee training, CHW training and more.
Nine volunteers from MN will be traveling to Tikonko for similar purposes in January 2019. Watch Facebook and Instagram for pictures and stories.