President Julius Maada Bio was on a mission to visit various Chiefdoms around the country. When he heard of the lifesaving work that RHCI was doing in the Tikonko Chiefdom, reducing maternal deaths and providing healthcare to children, he decided to see for himself the good work by visiting RHCI’s Mbao-mi Birth Waiting Home. Named ‘Mbao-mi’ or ‘Place of Healing’ this 24-bed facility is where pregnant mothers are admitted to stay before and after delivery, receiving medical monitoring, nutritious meals, and transportation, and to coincide with its name, a place to rest and heal after birth. Accompanied by several of the country’s leaders, politicians, and doctors, President Bio received a tour by RHCI’s staff of the facility.
“It means a great deal to us to have the President visit RHCI because there are not many organizations that he has visited. Having him and honored guests here is a big bravo to RHC. It means that RHCI is doing a very good job. We are reducing maternal deaths and it is a collaboration with the government. Even he could not imagine how we were doing all of these services for free, providing medication, care and food. He was very impressed” Juliana Sagba, RHCI’s Matron Nurse.
After a long month in the capital of Freetown, managing the complexities of the arrival of a new truck for RHCI’s programs shipped from overseas, Director Manley Jongopie arrived in Tikonko with the truck in time for the President’s arrival. Juliana details the importance of this new truck, “RHCI continues to pray for donor support because if we did not have another truck, we would not be able to successfully do both the Outreach Clinics and deal with emergencies when we are called for transportation. It allows us to not wait for emergencies and not risk the life of a patient.” The President celebrated the arrival of the truck by cutting the ribbons to show his appreciation.
Community members gather as donations of medical supplies, patient beds, and more were given to RHCI on behalf of the President.
Director, Manley Jongopie expressed his gratitude for the day of the President’s visit, ”It means a lot to me and RHCI. It means RHCI is on the right track. For us to have the President come and visit, and make donations of supplies means he heard of what we are doing. We are reducing maternal deaths and when we showed him a tour of the BWH he was so happy and he hopes we will continue. He said he heard of Sister Alice (RHCI’s Founder) and that these are the type of people he wants to be helping the country. He was so happy. When he saw the list of donors and the money we are fundraising for, he was very pleased.
Juliana wanted to share with RHCI’s supporters that “It is your support that made me take that venture of strengthening our work at RHCI and showing our work to the President.”
RHCI is honored to have the President recognize our work and looks forward to continuing to partner with the government both locally and nationally to strengthen healthcare systems in Sierra Leone. Since 2018, over 930 pregnant and postpartum women have received care at our two Birth Waiting Homes. Additionally, we have had 4,135 Child medical visits at our Mobile Clinics in the past year alone. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of many and are eager to see what opportunities come of the President of Sierra Leone visiting our Home.
*Photos credited to: statehouse.gov.sl
