Help Us Stop the Ebola Crisis in Sierra Leone

It is an exciting time to be in Sierra Leone. Since 2007 when Greatest Goal Ministries began working in Sierra Leone we were of course very aware of the dismal health care system and the gaping holes in healthcare delivery. Since 2009 we have been offering free healthcare to Sierra Leone and community education as well as healthcare education to all of our Sierra Leone staff through our international medical teams. When Ebola arrived in West Africa we knew that the fight would be long and hard. There just was not enough infrastructure and resources to combat the disease without outside help.  International aid began to pour into the country. Changes at the administrative and oversight level have begun.  Unfortunately, the people still cannot receive the healthcare they so desperately need.

Greatest Goal Ministries has been providing free medical care since 2009 in Sierra Leone and since late 2012 in Lakka at the Lady Deborah Berewa outpatient Hospital (LDBH). But like all healthcare facilities in the country, during the yearlong Ebola crisis, healthcare facilities either closed or became Ebola hospitals and the LDBH was no exception.  For the safety of the staff and patients the LDBH closed in August 2014. The reopening is now a slow process but we are on track to open in the next few months thanks to generous donors. Health system strengthening is happening across the country and Greatest Goal Ministries is working hard to ensure that all funds raised are being used for this purpose.

To ensure that standard screening and healthcare practices are followed the Ministry of Health has put processes in place. Greatest Goal Ministries has now completed all the administrative paperwork and is waiting for government approval.

Funds raised in part from Globalgiving are providing the resources needed for health system strengthening in the following areas:

• Painting-
• Walls inside and outside as well as the roof have been repaired and painted. This is the rainy season and if not taken care of mold and mildew rots everything.
• Plumbing-All sinks and flush toilets within the hospital have been repaired.
• Several outside pipes that had burst due to the poor materials available have now been repaired with better materials.
• Electrical-  
• The Ebola crisis brought a much needed transformer to the Lakka hospital compound for its Ebola unit. GGM was given permission from the National Power Association to purchase and connect a cable from the Lady Deborah Hospital to the dedicated transformer.   On September 1, 2015 for the first time in two years the hospital is receiving electricity. Not having to rely on a generator means more funds are available for direct patient care.
• Ebola Triage Unit- Architectural plans for a triage center and incinerator are complete and are currently under review by the Ministry of Health.   Construction should begin within the week.

Ebola left the country with fear and uncertainty but it also brought to light a health care system that desperately needed attention. We are continuing our efforts to improve and continue the high quality, basic health care that is so needed in Sierra Leone for the people of Sierra Leone at our Lady Deborah Berewa outpatient healthcare facility. We are so thankful for your continued support.

 Attached to this report is the link to a news report from FOX News in Seattle, WA about Ebola and GGM’s work.

Links:

• News story link from FOX News regarding GGM and Ebola