By Mary Kabay
In an exclusive interview that was conducted at the Aberdeen Women’s Centre on the 30th July, 2021 geared towards finding out how the Centre is faring on amidst the coronavirus pandemic since its inception in the country one of our reporters caught up with Dr. Virginia Kofi King of the Maternity Center.
She started by saying that when the coronavirus struck the country there was initially a low turnout of pregnant women attending the clinic was declining. The reasons, she cited, that were responsible for the declining number was the imposition of a curfew stating how such was limiting the patients’ accessibility to the Centre.
Dr. Virginia Kofi King further stated that even the 117 Emergency Toll Number that was activated for calls to be put through was not active adding that patients residing in hard to reach areas were difficult to access during emergencies.
“Though some of them were expected to reach the clinic for post-natal treatment yet they were not willing to do so out of fear of contracting the coronavirus,” she stated.
She disclosed that at one point in time the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) intervened offering Baby Mother Packages to encourage more pregnant women to visit the clinic and after they deliver the packages are donated to them.
Dr. Virginia Kofi King disclosed how they mounted a robust COVID-19 sensitization drive targeting their workers as well as the patients to creates awareness and lessen the risks of contracting the virus.
She furthered that in the wake of the robust sensitization they started witnessing large turnout of pregnant women attending the Clinic for check-ups and delivery.
We extended the sitting positions and rearranged the beddings for delivery in order to maintain social distancing,” she explained adding how the number of pregnant women visiting the maternity Centre went back to normalcy.
Dr. Virginia also disclosed that they have never experienced a drop in the number medical caregivers at the Centre in terms of nurses and doctors since the outbreak of the pandemic stating how all of them have been working full time stating that all suspected COVID-1 relating to members of staff forced them to contract volunteers.
She said so far obstetrics has its challenges but stated that they have been having 90% of successful delivery cases although they had to refer few cases but said generally cases were successfully treated.
In terms of her expectation, she said medical caregivers should work hand in hand to reduce the number of maternal mortality cases. She expressed hope of reaching out to pregnant women residing in hard to reach areas that do not have access to quality medication during and after child birth.
Princess Sam, one the pregnant woman attending the Clinic, on behalf of women attending the maternity clinic revealed how she started attending clinic since last month furthering how they have been having optimal care and support from the doctors and all workers.
She said they are continuously sensitized on the precautionary measures to be adhered to in order not to contract the Coronavirus.
Princess also stated that medical personnel at the Clinic are treating all delivery cases professionally and they have been largely successful in saving lives.
Generally, the clinic is doing well because they have adequate medication and optimal care for patients is the goal of each worker.
The Aberdeen Women’s Centre is known for its comprehensive fistula repair treatment in Sierra Leone and has the capacity to treat up to 300 fistula patients per year.
The Centre also takes a holistic approach to the care of women and children and in 2010 opened its own maternity unit to provide the highest standards of maternal healthcare for the women of Sierra Leone, thus preventing the occurrence of obstetric fistula in the first instance and ensuring a safe environment for childbirth.
The Maternity is now the second busiest in Sierra Leone, delivering up to 3,000 babies each year.
The Aberdeen W omen’s Centre also runs an outpatient children’s clinic which treats more than 20,000 children each year, providing a primary care facility for children in the surrounding community aged 15 and under, including immunizations and health education. The paediatric team also provides a twice weekly outreach clinic in the Kroo Bay slum of Freetown, providing much needed primary care to the most disadvantaged children.
