Tikonko Chiefdom (akin to a county in the USA) is in the Bo District of Sierra Leone’s Southern Province. Most of the 50,000 Tikonkons are of the Mende ethnic group and live as subsistence farmers. Tikonko Town is the government, economic and religious epicenter.
Treacherous dirt roads and footpaths connect the 50+ villages that are spread over a few hundred square miles. In the villages, water is drawn from wells or rivers, lighting is generated through lamps and candles, and cooking is done over outdoor wood or charcoal burning stoves.
Tikonko suffered greatly in Sierra Leone’s Civil War and Ebola Outbreak.
Malnutrition and stunting are common due to widespread food insecurity.
RHCI Founder Alice Karpeh with children at Mbao-mi Mothers’ Home.
Today
RHCI is a major player in the Chiefdom’s efforts to rebuild and advance their health care system. Currently 19 people are employed full-time by RHCI including:
- 3 medical staff at the Mbao-mi Mothers’ Home
- 2 administrative staff
- 2 outreach staff and motorbike drivers/riders
- 4 drivers for the three 4-wheel drive vehicles
- 5 security staff for the two Maternity Waiting Homes
- 2 garden staff
- 1 nutritionist
In addition, RHCI employs approximately 60 part-time staff that receive stipends, including:
- Over 50 Community Health Workers
- 2 Tailoring instructors for the tailoring program
- 12 Health Center staff including nurses and midwives
All of the food purchased for the Birth Waiting Home is sources locally in the Tikonko Chiefdom or Bo.
The service area for RHCI includes over 50 villages and 4 health units:
- Tikonko Community Health Center
- Gondama Community Health Center
- Kassama Maternal Child Health Post
- Sembehun Tarbema Maternal Health Post
To reach all of these areas, plus provide much needed transportion for pregnant and post-partum women, sick children, and staff, RHCI operates these vehicles:
- 4-wheel drive Toyota Hilux
- 4-wheel drive Toyota Land Cruiser
- New in 2022 4 wheel drive Toyota Land Cruiser
- 5 motorbikes.
The RHCI Tikonko Project Committee, composed of leaders in the Tikonko Chiefdom, provides regular feedback and advice to the RHCI staff in Tikonko.
Learn More
Maps of Sierra Leone & Tikonko
Tikonko is located 7 miles south of Bo at the junction of Tikonko Road and Lembema Road. Tikonko Town is the largest of many villages, with about 1000 residents. More than 25 villages use the Tikonko Health Center for medical care, labor, and delivery.
Read more Sierra Leone:
>> History of Sierra Leone
>> Sierra Leone Health Profile
>> Bo District Profile
>> Sierra Leone World Fact Book
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