School children singing in Mende: “I go to school to learn how to spell”
Three members of the USA RHCI team recently visited the Tikonko Chiefdom in rural Sierra Leone in January 2026 to meet with staff, evaluate programs and make future plans. Included on this team were Lamin Foray, Julie Hoffer and Carol Nelson.
The team was gratified to observe the operations of RHCI and to see how well the Birth Waiting Homes in Gondama and Tikonko were operating, as well as the child health programs in many villages. Over 440 pregnant women received services this past year at the Birth Waiting Homes. No mothers’ lives have been lost over the past 4 years! And the children are much healthier, with over 13,000 child medical visits at RHCI Outreach Clinics this past year.
Accompanying the nurses (supported by the One Day’s Wages Grant) on their village visits was a rare opportunity to see their work in progress.
Visiting the villages of Lembema II and Tanninhun in the Gondama catchment area demonstrated how challenging it is to travel to these remote villages over nearly impassable roads. Most of the families lived in one room mud huts.
We were able to observe the malaria vaccine being given as well as albendazole (deworming medication) and Vitamin A, which are crucial to child health under the age of 5 . Over 6700 nurse visits provided these services in the past year. We also witnessed what a great relationship the nurses have developed with the children and their parents.
Family in Lembema II in Gondama area
Our team experienced the gratitude of the villagers and their leaders for the work of the nurses in the villages to keep the children healthy. In the villages of Mokohun and Sorgebehun, the newborn nurse home visits were part of our trip there. These villages were also very difficult to access, with limited to no roads for our 4-wheel drive vehicle to travel over. Over 2500 newborn visits took place in the past year.
The parents of the children being served were especially thankful for the nurses sent by RHCI to help keep their children healthy. We are grateful to our many supporters who make this impact possible, and to the One Day’s Wages grant team for the matching funds.
Nurse Saffie administering a Malaria Vaccine
