Though only 8 cases of COVID 19 have been documented in Sierra Leone as of April 10, RHCI’s Tikonko staff members are applying similar precautions as those implemented during the Ebola outbreak in 2014-2015. The Government of Sierra Leone has issued guidance and our staff are complying.
Due to the extremely limited medical resources and health care workforce, the entire country is vulnerable. With no ventilators or oxygen to treat respiratory failure from the virus, the pandemic could be especially devastating.
Additional hand-washing stations and social distancing have been implemented. Churches, mosques and schools have closed. The RHCI motorbike clinics and the Mbao-mi Mothers’ home are continuing to operate, but will make adjustments as needed when the number of cases rise in the country. Our staff are limiting visitors to Mbao-mi and have constructed a fence to reduce access to the home. Extra surveillance for patients and staff at the Home is taken with checking temperatures daily.
RHCI’s tailoring program has followed the school closing policies and have suspended the program, however, instructors from the program are very busy with sewing face masks to help protect our staff, our patients and community members. RHCI volunteer Jo Collins is working remotely via WhatsApp to instruct and advise the staff to use proper fabric and sewing techniques to sew the face masks.
A three-month supply of nonperishable food, medications and medical supplies has been purchased in case of shortages developing. As a critical form of transportation for pregnant women and critically ill children, RHCI’s two 4-wheel drive vehicles have been issued passes to allow them to continue operations during times of lock-down. 
As conditions change due to COVID 19, we will keep you informed by email, Facebook and the website. For up to date country information on incidence, go to http://ncov2019.live.
