Health Poverty Action is saving women’s lives during and after childbirth and reducing childhood illness in remote parts of Sierra Leone.
Some 37,000 people are targeted by this project.
Trained health workers and volunteers are helping women in Northern Bombali District recognise the need for antenatal and postnatal care, and the importance of delivering their babies in a health facility with trained staff at hand.
The project promotes basic emergency care for women in labour and addresses maternal deaths caused by complications in childbirth.
Focusing on children too
In addition, health workers and community volunteers will be trained to help prevent childhood illnesses and deliver key health messages to their communities.
They will also inform men about the specific needs of pregnant women and young children, with the hope that they become increasingly supportive of their family’s health.
Health Poverty Action has worked in Sierra Leone to reduce maternal deaths since 2005. This project aims to reach women in even more remote communities and includes vital health improvements for young children.
This project is mainly funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
“The community used to be frightened when a mother was pregnant and nearing the time of birth: now we feel happier knowing the mother and baby have a chance to survive.”A group of village leaders in Tambakka, Northern Bombali.
The five chiefdoms in Northern Bombali where this project works were chosen due to their isolation.
There are no other health organisations working in these chiefdoms.
An estimated 11,500 children will avoid illness or death from malaria, diarrhoea and respiratory infections, and many will benefit from breastfeeding.
Last modified: 06/03/2012
