On May 4, 2020, Sierra Leone lost its first medical frontline worker, Dr. Vandi Sombie. Dr. Sombie was one of Sierra Leone’s most valued pediatricians, and one of the countries longest serving Community Health Officers, working with critically ill children at Bo Children’s Hospital. Rural Health Care Initiative has relied on Dr. Sombie’s selfless service, of saving the lives of thousands of children, for many years.
RHCI Board Member, Dr. Gary Johnson, expresses his gratitude of having worked with Dr. Sombie during Dr. Johnson’s 9 month visit to Tikonko in 2017,
“A typical 4 day hospitalization to save a child from Tikonko chiefdom, who is knocking on death’s door with cerebral malaria, has been $50. I worked side by side with Vandi Sombie, Francis, and those nurses and staff 3 days a week for 3 months. They have been a very important link in a chain of care that reaches, thanks to RHCI, deep into Tikonko chiefdom. I’ve never seen a finer doctor in action than Vandi Sombie. I’ve never felt more like a physician than working elbow to elbow with Vandi, Francis, and those Bo Children’s Hospital nurses, sometimes by headlamp because the diesel ran out. Vandi’s death has affected me deeply and emotionally. The man saved thousands of children in his career. I will never forget him.”
(Recovered child with severe malaria)
RHCI’s Executive Director, Dr. Carol Nelson, shares her most recent encounter with Dr. Sombie during her visit to Tikonko in January, 2020,
“RHCI’s Children’s health program includes transporting critically ill children to Bo Children’s Hospital for life saving care. My most memorable experience was seeing the 4 year old girl with severe malaria and a hemoglobin of 3.4 return to health under the care of Vandi Sombie. RHCI provided the transportation from Tikonko to Bo, and paid for the 4 day hospital stay ($50 USD).”
RHCI’s travel teams have met with Dr. Sombie a number of times as we strengthened RHCI’s relationship to Bo Children’s Hospital. The most recent visit, January 2020, when Board Member, Julie Hoffer and her daughter, Alexa Hoffer, brought him a bag full of children’s toys and Dr. Nelson brought him 2 glucometers and test strips, a request from Dr. Sombie to better treat his patients. Alexa had the privilege to spent time at the hospital, learning from Dr. Sombie.
January 2020 visit to Bo Children’s Hospital
Dr. Sombie’s lifesaving work is not forgotten and RHCI is forever grateful to have had the opportunity to partner with him for many years.