By Carol Nelson MD MPH; Program Director of RHCI’s medical programs in Sierra Leone
I returned from Sierra Leone several weeks ago and would like to give you a firsthand update on RHCI’s work there. I can assure you that, as RHCI’s supporters, you are truly making a difference through your generosity.
Inna Gabrielson (Ultrasound Trainer), Julie Hoffer (RHCI Board Member), Carol Nelson (RHCI Program Director), and Alice Karpeh (RHCI Founder)
Expecting mothers at the Mbao-mi Mother’s Home
Twin boys at Mbao-mi
Here is what I experienced: Our four key program areas are having a major positive impact on the Tikonko Chiefdom. Our in-country staff are hardworking and dedicated, with no turnover in over 4 years. The community people are overwhelmingly grateful for our presence and support, strengthening the poorly resourced government health care system and providing hope for health and a better future. No longer are women dying in childbirth.
Both Birth Waiting Homes (BWH) are operating as intended with women from remote villages staying there at the end of pregnancy to have access to midwife care at delivery, and to be transported to the District hospital by RHCI if an emergency arises. Nearly 800 women have stayed at the BWHs. I spent time observing and talking to the women staying there. They were very happy to be there, to have a chance to rest and improve their health, and receive health education before and after childbirth.
Nutritionist Umu Shour at Outreach Clinic in Sunga
RHCI’s Mobile Outreach Clinics (to 8 villages) are very busy. I attended the Sunga outreach and on that Friday, a record number of children (105) were seen! While interviewing Sunga mothers who had stayed at the Mbao-mi Mothers’ Home, I discovered many of them who had lost babies prior to the Birth Waiting Home being open. Their experiences at Mbao-mi in Tikonko were very positive and they delivered healthy babies.
Since I had not been to SL in two years due to the COVID pandemic, I finally met the RHCI nutritionists and observed the child malnutrition program in operation. We also visited Bo Children’s Hospital to learn more about the children RHCI brought there who received care there for critical illness and malnutrition. We reaffirmed our relationship with both Bo Children’s Hospital and Mercy Hospital in Bo and also met with midwives at the Bo District Hospital.
Staff in Tikonko with Founder, Alice Karpeh
The Mbao-mi Mothers’ garden has expanded and is providing food for the BWHs. The 3-acre farm produced cowpeas and ground nuts this past year to feed the women at the Birth Waiting Homes. While there, I watched community health workers shelling the grounds nuts from the RHCI land to be used at the BWH.
On this trip, RHCI introduced basic OB ultrasound in Tikonko and Gondama, training five health care workers. The volunteer sonographer, Inna from Minnesota, was the trainer and a key part of the trip. RHCI donated two small iQ Butterfly portable ultrasounds and iPads to the Tikonko and Gondama health units, which will help their staff detect abnormalities that indicate referral to the hospital is necessary.
The future: In addition to continuing our current program areas, we are expanding our child health and nutrition programs through age 10 (doubling the number of children) starting July 1. The community health workers will be trained on malnutrition. RHCI will strengthen our outreach to more villages that don’t have access to health care.
Thank you for believing in RHCI and its mission. Together we are truly making a difference.