Above: Triplets, born in March 2022, who are thriving with support from RHCI
Year in Review: Accomplishments in 2022
By Carol Nelson MD MPH, RHCI Program Director
All in all, 2022 was a busy and successful year. On behalf of the RHCI Board of Directors, I am proud of the work we are supporting in the Tikonko Chiefdom, for many mothers, babies, children and families. We are happy to report over 10,000 program touchpoints with individuals in the Tikonko Chiefdom in our fiscal year July 2021-June 2022.
These accomplishments are possible through our dedicated in-country staff, our in-country partners, and our many generous donors. To all of you, we are grateful. As we enter 2023, we re-dedicate ourselves to RHCI’s mission of building local partnerships and reducing maternal and child mortality.
The accomplishments listed below are in addition to ongoing successful operations of our four key program areas:
- Birth Waiting Homes in Tikonko (24 beds) and Gondama (11 beds)
- Health System Strengthening including mobile outreach clinics to 8 villages each month; Support for four clinics; transportation for hospital referrals as well as to bring new mothers back home to their villages; major support for malaria medications and test kits for the clinics when out of government stock
- Children’s Health and Malnutrition Program in 10 villages; hospitalization of critically ill children providing transport; coverage of hospital charges; food for caregiver
- Food Security Program: Large garden and farm producing food for patients and staff; farm with crop of improved cowpeas, maize and groundnuts; partnerships with Njala University and personnel providing trainings.
In Sierra Leone
- Visit by President Bio and his staff donating of medical supplies and funds
- Introduction of Basic Obstetric Ultrasound, training of 5 staff, and donation of two sets of ultrasound equipment
- New programs made possible by One Day’s Wages grant: Training of 75 Community Health Workers on child malnutrition; expansion of outreach clinics to include children ages 5-10 years; development of newborn/mother nurse home visit program
- Transportation upgrades: new truck (Toyota Land Cruiser) purchased through a generous donation; garage renovation in Tikonko and new garage in Gondama; additional truck driver hired
- Donation of 12 hospital beds from Healy International Relief Foundation
- Food Security and Agriculture: partnership with Growing the Grass Roots NGO; multiple crops grown (Improved crop varieties produced); two Farmer Based Organizations supported and trained
- Construction of indoor toilet at Gondama Birth Waiting Home
- Renewal of registration with Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, with SLANGO (Sierra Leone Association of NGOs) and the SL Ministry of Health and Sanitation
- Visits from 6 RHCI Board members and volunteers, and founder Alice Karpeh
- Tailoring program improvement with grant funding: 3 new treadle sewing machines and supplies for students purchased; requirements for graduating developed; collaboration with OneVillage Partners for a 2-week business training for 14 students
- 16 full-time staff supported with salaries; Over 60 part-time staff received stipends
In the USA:
- Fundraising: One Day’s Wages Grant was awarded to RHCI, followed by RHCI raising the matching $18,000 for total of over $38,000; Taste of Africa in October, the first in-person event in 2.5 years, with over $140,000 raised. Tailoring grant of $2500 grant from Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Wisconsin; Minnesota Give to the Max Day in November. Many other generous donations.
- Donations and shipping of medical and baby supplies: 12 barrels shipped, with generous support from First Presbyterian Church in White Bear Lake, MN
- Ongoing board meetings, communications work, administrative and financial proceedings with major upgrade of the financial reporting system. Required reports including the IRS 990 form, Attorney General and Secretary of State were reports filed.
