For many of us who are privileged enough to live in a country where healthcare is far more accessible than in Sierra Leone, it can be difficult to relate to the tragedy that an epidemic has on a community. Unfortunately, this year has shed light to all of us on the tragedies that Sierra Leoneans have faced for many years, including during the Ebola Outbreak in 2014-2015. During that time, organizations that were in place for healthcare aid pulled their services, leaving communities without access to healthcare. Hospitals and clinics were abandoned, and many people died as a result of the outbreak and lack of healthcare many years later.
In-country Director Manley Jongopie-January 2020 at Gondama Birth Waiting Home before re-building
Located in the Tikonko Chiefdom where we serve, about 17 miles from the Mbao-mi Birth Waiting Home, is the village of Gondama. The Gondama catchment area is home to over 8000 people, with most living in remote villages. They continue to live with the lasting devastation that Ebola brought to their community. It is a community in dire need of healthcare services for mothers that were forced to give birth without skilled care in their distant villages and desperate for care for their children who commonly fall ill. We are determined to help these families that were left with limited access to health care. In 2019, we received a grant from the U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone and Friends of Sierra Leone (former Peace Corps Volunteers that served in Sierra Leone) to re-build a 10-bed Birth Waiting Home in Gondama that had been left vacant since 2014 when MSF (Doctors Without Borders) left the area.
Mothers and children at Gondama outreach clinic
As the re-construction of the Home began, we saw an immediate need of health care services in the small surrounding villages of Gondama. In November, 2019, we set out to expand our mobile outreach clinic to reach these 4 additional villages. The number of patients receiving care at these clinics was nearly double in comparison to the 4 outreach clinics that are still continuing to run on the west end of the Tikonko Chiefdom. Today, our 8 total outreach clinics serve on average 370 women and children each month.
Gondama Birth Waiting Home and Barrie November 2020
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, progress on opening the Home was halted in March of 2020. However, through the challenges, we were able to construct a small barrie next to the home where expecting mothers can rest and get fresh air.
In addition, in partnership with Midwives on Missions of Service, a month long training was conducted certifying 26 women as Community Health Workers. These women will be advocates for the pregnant women in their communities, helping them seek care at the Birth Waiting Home as they near time of delivery, as well as newborn care, postpartum care and education. With the opening coming soon, we are fortunate to employ 7 part time staff at the Home.
Gondama Community Health Workers trained in October 2020
We are now days away from the grand opening of the Home. RHCI’s second Birth Waiting Home is a staple structure in the community that represents quality health services, sustainability for the future, and a commitment for many years to come. We are thrilled to expand our reach to ensure healthy pregnancies for more moms in the Tikonko Chiefdom.
