|
|
INVESTING IN PEOPLE:
HEALTH
Sierra Leone is at the
bottom (177 out of 177 countries) of the UNDP’s 2007 Human
Development index, with the world’s highest maternal and infant
mortality rates. Life expectancy at birth is only about 48 years.
The health system and other social services collapsed during the
civil war and have not been able to recover fully to meet all the
health needs of a growing population.
USAID’s goal in
health is to improve maternal and child health, reduce the toll
of tropical diseases, and maintain Sierra Leone’s low HIV
prevalence of 1.5%. USAID is doing this primarily through helping
to foster Sierra Leone’s own capacity for delivering high-quality
health services.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
Sierra Leone has the
world’s highest child and maternal mortality rates. Persistent
malnutrition among children, pregnant and lactating mothers continues
to be a major challenge in addressing child and maternal health,
as is the weak health infrastructure.
To help reduce illness
and deaths among infants, children and mothers in Sierra Leone,
USAID, through the Livelihood Expansion and Asset Development (LEAD)
project, is focusing on improving newborn, child and maternal health
care through training of health and community workers; education
in health and nutrition for pregnant women and mothers; and supplementary
feeding for particularly vulnerable households. In addition, USAID’s
support to agricultural activities is helping boost the health of
mothers and children by making food more plentiful and accessible.
HIV/AIDS AND FAMILY PLANNING
HIV infection in Sierra
Leone is in danger of rapidly increasing as a result of pervasive
poverty, high risk sexual behavior, the high level of illiteracy,
and the large presence of former “child soldiers” and
regular military who are infected. Poor access to health care services,
poor understanding of HIV/AIDS, and marginalization of women add
to the challenges of halting the spread of HIV infection in Sierra
Leone. The weak health system and inadequate equipment for delivering
services also make it difficult for the government to implement
effective policies and programs to respond to the threat of HIV/AIDS.
USAID’s goals are
to strengthen HIV/AIDS prevention programs and improve the treatment
and care of those infected with HIV/AIDS. USAID is implementing
a program called Sport Health Project On HIV/AIDS, which uses sport
and play tools to enhance children’s overall health and particularly
to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS and how to prevent it. The project
encourages positive attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS
and persuades people to adopt safer sex behavior practices.
USAID also implements
a project called AWARE (Action for the West Africa Region) that
provides technical assistance to Sierra Leone in the delivery of
HIV/AIDS and family planning services, and in the management and
procurement of contraceptives, drugs and HIV test kits.
Obstetric fistula is
an injury caused by obstructed labor, and can be fatal for both
baby and
mother without prompt medical attention. To combat this problem,
USAID is providing assistance through the Mercy Ships Obstetric
Fistula Program. In FY 2008, the program provided surgical repair
for about 700 women with fistula and training for nine surgeons
and nurses on how to care for women suffering from childbirth injuries.
The program also provides public health education on fistula prevention
through partnerships with local health providers, NGOs and communities.
USAID also supports the
Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Program to help Sierra Leone
reduces illness due to a number of debilitating tropical diseases.
These include onchocerciasis (or river blindness, which is the world's
second leading infectious cause of blindness), lymphatic filariasis
(a parasitic disease caused by thread-like parasitic worms), soil-transmitted
helminthes (commonly known as intestinal worms, which is the most
common infection worldwide and tends to affect the poorest communities),
and trachoma (the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness).
USAID, in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone, is
increasing awareness of the diseases through school health programs.
USAID is also providing technical assistance in strategic planning,
and training in prevention and treatment with “ivermectin”
anti-parasitic medication.
FY 2009 HEALTH RESULTS AT-A-GLANCE
• USAID implemented trainings for over 35,000 people including
government health care providers and community volunteers in maternal
and newborn health and nutrition care.
• A total of 603 children and their caregivers were involved
in peripheral health units’ sessions for nutritional rehabilitation,
and 65% of the children gained a considerable amount of weight after
participating at the training.
• USAID’s effort in community education helped 493 women
adopt good nutritional practices.
• USAID promoted breast feeding practices: about 3,000 women
were reached with infant and child feeding messages and 1,757 women
were practicing breastfeeding with USAID assistance.
• 54,197 children under the age of five were examined and
weighed as part of a health promotion program.
• USAID provided growth monitoring equipment and logistical
support to the district medical officers and health management teams
to conduct outreach clinic services in maternal and child health.
• 6,692 people were trained in malaria, diarrhea and acute
respiratory infections topics. The training covered various health,
nutrition, personal hygiene, environmental and water sanitation
topics.
• 7,488 women benefitted from USAID provided immunization
(EPI), antenatal consultation, health/nutrition education, iron
tablets for pregnant women, and Vitamin A for post-partum women.
• 1,052.972 metric tons of food rations were provided by USAID
to 4,491 vulnerable households.
• In six targeted districts, thanks to USAID intervention,
most communities have cleared bushes and weeds, and no longer have
stagnating water around their homes protecting them from the spread
of disease.
|
