Physical Health Sierra Leone Project #42929

Support 6,000 Mums & Kids' Health in Sierra Leone

by Health Poverty Action

Project Report | Oct 28, 2019
A Nurse's Perspective

By Siaffa Bunduka | Supporter Engagement Manager

Asha outside Kagbere Health Centre

Asha has been a nurse at Kagbere health centre in northern Sierra Leone for five years. Health Poverty Action has been working together with healthcare workers and institutions in this community for over thirteen years.

Asha says, “The biggest problem we face is nutrition. Most children who come here are here with a feeding problem. Most times they have been given water and rice too young, or without a varied nutritional balance. Most of the parents who come here haven’t been taught what food to give their children.”

With support from Health Poverty Action, Asha can teach more parents about the importance of breastfeeding and the different nutritional foods they can give their children to help them grow.

Health Poverty Action's previous work focussing on maternal health in this region has proven to be effective, contributing to a decrease in the maternal mortality rate of approximately 41 percent over the course of three years.

Links:

Health Poverty Action website

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Oct 18, 2019
Fatu and Ami's Story

By Siaffa Bunduka | Supporter Engagement Manager

Fatu is 22 years old and her daughter, Ami, is two years old. They live in a rural area of northern Sierra Leone, where we have been working with the community since 2005, supporting women and children to improve their health and nutrition. With your help, we will continue to work with families and health workers in rural Sierra Leone.

Fatu explains how a year ago, Ami became very sick with malnutrition.

“She got sick, she lost weight and I had to bring her to the health centre.”

When she arrived, the nurses first advised her to buy some fish, bananas and eggs to improve the nutritional balance of her diet. Fatu used the little money she had to do this, but there was no improvement in Ami’s condition.

“She was ill and began to get malnourished. She refused to even eat. At that time I took her to the health centre. They said she was malnourished and gave her peanuts (plumpy nut) and medicine.”

The health clinic continued working with Fatu to identify nutritional food that she could afford, and that Ami would eat. By working together, Ami was able to get better.

“Before, I was giving her rice. I think that made my child sick. Her belly swelled and bloated.”

“They told me to wash my hands properly before giving Ami her food, and to give Ami peanuts in the morning and evening…without this service, I would have lost my child.”

In the future Fatu hopes that Ami will be educated and have a good job, like a nurse or a minister in the government.

With your support, we can ensure that more families like Fatu and Ami’s are able to take charge of their health through good nutrition. We can continue to support health clinics and health workers to spread vital knowledge and provide treatment to even more vulnerable families and individuals.

Links:

Health Poverty Action Website

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