Pikin Bizness, an organization established to support children by providing health related assistance, economic and educational support to child survivors of post-conflict Sierra Leone has informed that five children would be travelling abroad for open heart surgeries.
Speaking to this medium on Friday 20th September 2019 at their head office on Wilkinson Road Freetown, Fredrick Tarawallie, Media and Communication Officer of the organization disclosed that the five children would be travelling to different countries for their surgical treatments.
He said that Isatu Dumbuya and Emmanuel George would be going to Dubai, Kaday Conteh and Alusine Leigh would be going to Aswan Egypt and Hawa Marrah would be going to Bangalore India also informing that the five kids would be travelling with their parents.
Fredrick Tarawallie said the organization was established in January 2001, by three people who came together; Dr Adonis Abboud, Shellac Sonny Davies and Barbara Bangura, culminating into its launching as a Charitable Organization called Pikin Bizness.
He said four years later, in 2005, having spotted a campaign, launched by the Exclusive Daily Newspaper, advertising and appealing for help on behalf of one Abu Bakarr Jalloh, a six year old with a hole in his heart, Pikin Bizness embarked on a larger campaign targeting mainly children with heart deficiencies, especially children with holes in their hearts and other related diseases.
Tarawallie revealed that since November 2005 to date, more than 23 children have been flown for cardiac treatment and 2 waiting to be flown to Dubai which has cost the organization more than ten thousand euros per child adding that the organization has also helped other children suffering from other diseases.
He stressed that they are flying those kids who have congenital heart problems to seek medical procedures abroad through their partners Chain of Hope, RCPCH and Chaine De L’Espoir.
newly appointed World Bank Country Director for Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ghana – Pierre Frank Laporte
By Amin Kef Sesay
On Tuesday, 17 September 2019, the newly appointed World Bank Country Director for Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ghana – Pierre Frank Laporte, who took up office in July this year, met with President Julius Maada Bio at State House.
Presenting the new World Bank Chief, Finance Minister Jacob Jusu Saffa said that Mr. Laporte has served in various positions at the international level. He said the World Bank boss is in State House to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the development of Sierra Leone.
In his presentation, Mr. Laporte said he is pleased to meet with the President and assured that he would use his experience and expertise to bring the right support to the Government of Sierra Leone.
Before joining the Bank, Laporte, a Seychelles national, was the Minister for Finance, Trade, and Investment of the Republic of Seychelles and he served as Governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles. During that time, Laporte was a leading member of the Seychelles Government team that implemented the country’s successful macro-economic reform program that was launched in 2008 with international support.
Prior to joining the World Bank, Laporte was a regular speaker for the Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on experiences on debt and growth challenges facing island economies.
Laporte previously served as an economist with the IMF, as well as the Resident Representative in Niger from 2005-2008. Laporte has private sector experience having served as the CEO of the Sacos Insurance Group in Seychelles. His professional accomplishments also include leading Seychelles’ accession into the World Trade Organization as Trade Minister.
Mr. Laporte holds a Master’s degree in Economics (with Distinction) from the University of Sheffield (UK) and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Computing from the University of Surrey (UK). He is also a holder of several awards; in 1998 he received the Midland Bank Award for Outstanding Performer in the Economics, Money, Banking and Finance programs of the University of Sheffield (1998). He received the 2013 Southern African Finance Minister of the Year award by the African Leadership Magazine and a Special Commendation Award for Outstanding Contribution and Service to Humanity by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus in 2014.
He said he arrives in Sierra Leone at a time when the country is making progress. He reaffirmed his support, adding that he would work together with the Government to find solutions to the many challenges facing the country.
In his response, President Bio said: “Let me welcome you to Sierra Leone and to let you know that you have good partners in development. We want to get on with the process of development and we will work with you so that we can surmount the challenges”.
So what are these challenges?
Falling export revenue
Low investments in key economic sectors
Depreciating value of the Leone
High and rising youth unemployment
Rising government borrowing
Low taxation base
Weak governance and corruption
Poor investment in water and electricity sectors
This is the latest World Bank’s overview of the situation in Sierra Leone:
Sierra Leone’s economy grew by 7.8% on average during 2003-2014 but contracted by 21% in 2015 following the Ebola outbreak and a decline in the price of iron ore, the main export product. Although the country was declared Ebola free in March 2016, the economic recovery has been volatile.
Growth rebounded to 6.4% in 2016 only to decelerate to 3.8% in 2017 and remaining roughly stagnant at 3.7% in 2018. Adding to the challenge of recovery, a large landslide hit Freetown in August 2017, further disrupting economic activity and slowing the pace of the recovery.
The current growth patterns have slightly reversed the gains in poverty reduction: per capita income, estimated at US$506 in 2018, remains below its pre-Ebola level ($660) compounded by a population growth of about 2%.
The 2018 Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey provisionally puts the overall poverty headcount at 56.7% compared to 53.8 in 2011. The poverty rate remains higher in rural areas (72.2%) than urban towns (18.4% in Freetown).
Broad macroeconomic stability is yet to be assured. Inflationary pressure has persisted due to the depreciation of the exchange rate, food supply constraints early in 2018 and the adverse impact of the liberalization of fuel prices in July 2018.
The Bank of Sierra Leone increased the policy rate (MPR) by 200 basis points to 16.5% in December 2018 in a bid to reduce the high inflation.
The Leone depreciated by 12.0% year-on-year, underpinned by the widening of the current account deficit to 14.0% of GDP (from 11.7% in 2017), following the sharp drop in exports earnings.
The overall fiscal deficit is estimated at 6.6% of GDP in 2018, a considerable reduction from the 8.6% of GDP in 2017.
Total domestic revenue increased to 17.2% of GDP in 2018 (from 14.9% in the previous year) due mainly to elimination of fuel subsidies, reduction of excessive duty and tax waivers and introduction of a treasury single account (TSA).
Total public debt reached 66.3% of GDP in 2018 (from 64.6% of GDP a year earlier), reflecting depreciation of the exchange rate as well as the increase in domestic debt.
The recent World Bank and IMF Debt Sustainability Analysis assessed the country to be at a “high risk” of debt distress for both external public debt and overall public debt.
Growth is expected to improve to 5.4% in 2019 and stabilize at 5.2% by 2021, largely reflecting the recovery in mining sector but also improvements in agriculture and services.
Political Context
Sierra Leone held general elections on March 7, 2018 to elect a new president, members of Parliament and local councils in the fourth cycle of elections since the civil war in 2002. Opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) candidate, Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio won in a run-off after the first round failed to produce an outright winner.
The losing All People’s Congress (APC) won majority in Parliament with 68 seats to the SLPP’s 49. Two new parties – the Coalition for Change (C4C) and the National Grand Coalition (NGC) – won eight and four seats respectively. Three independent candidates were elected. This is the first time a winning party has failed to have majority in Parliament.
The new administration on January 29, 2019 launched three Commissions of Inquiry (COIs) to probe into the governance activities of the past administration covering 2007 to 2018. Persons of Interest include former president, vice presidents, ministers, deputies, and other civil and public servants.
The judge-led Commissions are expected to hold proceedings for six months though there is provision for an extension should the need arise.
The main opposition party filed a case in the Supreme Court seeking clarifications on some constitutional provisions, which they allege had been breached by the government in setting up the Commissions.
The Sierra Leone Parliament on February 22, 2019 ratified a State of Public Emergency proclamation made by the President on rape and other forms of sexual violence against women and girls, but the main opposition insists the debate was inconclusive and that “a Public State of Emergency does not exist.”
Political tension between the ruling party and the opposition came to a head following a local council by-election in the Kambia District, which was won by the ruling party candidate. The two opposition parties (APC and NCG), which contested in the election, rejected the results.
Development Challenges
Until the outbreak of Ebola in May 2014, Sierra Leone was seeking to attain middle-income status by 2035, but the country still carries its post-conflict attributes of high youth unemployment, corruption and weak governance.
The country continues to face the daunting challenge of enhancing transparency in managing its natural resources and creating fiscal space for development. Problems of poor infrastructure and widespread rural and urban impoverishment persist despite remarkable strides and reforms.
Members of the NGO Community in Sierra Leone were addressed by the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Francis Kai Kai on Tuesday 17th September 2019 during a familiarization meeting at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown.
Purpose of the meeting was to familiarize and engage them on their continued commitment in the road to implement the Government’s Medium Term National Development Plan (2019-2023) and also address key issues in their bid to fostering the National Agenda.
Shellac Sunny-Davies, National Coordinator of the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations, speaking on behalf of the NGO Community said that despite the many challenges, NNGOs and INGOs are committed to the cause of accountability, transparency and empowerment mechanisms. She noted that they are looking forward to continue working with the Minister to ensure meaningful contribution of the NGO Community in Sierra Leone to the overall development of the country.
In his response, the Minister thanked the NGO Community for the tremendous work they have done in the country, especially during very difficult moments. He said, “I am particularly grateful for the important roles NGOs have played towards the development trajectory of the country before, during and after the 11 years civil war, we all have the joint responsibility of helping Sierra Leone walk out of fragility.”
Dr. Kai-Kai concluded by assuring NGOs of a friendly working environment and noted that he is looking forward to doing more consultations on the issues discussed as they create pathways to addressing these issues.
At State House on Wednesday 18 September 2019 contestants for this year’s Miss Sierra Leone Beauty Pageantry paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio ahead of Saturday’s contest.
First Lady Mrs. Fatima Bio, who presented the contestants, thanked the President for hosting the team, saying that it was an honour to be around them. She said they were meeting the President to officially inform him about the contest because the New Direction Government believes in youth empowerment.
She disclosed that the winner of the contest would have the opportunity to represent Sierra Leone at the 69th edition of the Miss World pageant, slated for December 14 in London, United Kingdom. The First Lady also impressed on the young ladies that it would be a big achievement for the winner who would eventually represent the country abroad and called on the contestants to put on their best performances because they were representing the hopes of their respective districts.
In his response, President Bio thanked the group of people who had been working and providing support to the contestants and noted that he was proud of the quality of products being produced lately. He added that he was particularly proud that the country was now grooming young ladies who were bold and ready to represent the country internationally.
He stated that the ladies were ambassadors of their respective districts and encouraged them to be models, by always putting on their best. He also said that it was the responsibility of Government to help its citizens actualize their fullest potentials, adding that that was why his Government is providing quality education to every Sierra Leonean because education is the best tool for both personal and national development.
“The beauty in you shines better when you have an education. We are giving everyone the required tools to be able to succeed because the future of this nation depends on the quality of people we produce. So, I encourage you all to make use of the free quality education we are providing because there is no shortcut to success. I also call on you to maintain moral values because as parents it is our responsibility to guide you,” he said.
Miss Kono, Christiana Sia Johnson, who delivered the vote of thanks, said that it was a privilege to meet the President and commended him for offering them words of wisdom. She also expressed their appreciation to the First Lady for organizing the visit.
Dr. Philip John Kanu who happens to be the Acting Principal of the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCE&T) polytechnic on Wednesday 18th September 2019 officially opened a day’s Quality Assurance Training for both academic and administrative staff at the college’s conference room, Goderich campus at which event he asserted that staff cannot function well if they are not well-grounded in other disciplines. He further informed that he serves as a resource person in leadership, management and human resource trainings in various institutions including Njala University and encouraged the participants to change their focus of knowing all also appealing to them to take advantage of the training opportunity.
He continued that he reads books daily, even when travelling, but lamented that cheating in examinations has become a major problem in the country for which all must bow their heads in shame, that some lecturers sell pamphlets, inflate grades for students and engage in other malpractices articulating that MMCE&T trains teachers and instructors for the country’s middle-level manpower needs disclosing that the resource person, Professor Roney Frazer-Williams, is the leading quality assurance expert in the country and thanked him for accepting the invitation.
According to the Acting Principal, no one individual can change the status quo of the deteriorating standard of education in the country. He said he goes around the college campus to ensure that things are done the right way underscoring “we have to start with ourselves” and reaffirmed that he wants to improve the quality of graduates produced by the college as MMCET is renowned for producing quality teachers.
“In his recent address to the nation on the reopening of schools, President Julius Maada Bio talked tough on examination malpractices. I want to appeal to lecturers to submit their lecture notes to be uploaded on the college’s website. We want to change the approach. The college will establish a Quality Control Unit. I want to succeed, the reason I am open to criticisms. Let’s accommodate each other for quality assurance,” he concluded.
In his PowerPoint presentation, Professor Roney Frazer-Williams of the Chemistry Department, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, enlightened that the full attendance of administrative and academic staff at the training means they want to change the status quo, that we are all responsible for the current poor state of education in the country, that his presentation is food for thought and described quality as the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bears its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs.
He furthered highlighted the background of the project-Assurance Quality Education in Sierra Leone, the Strategic Partnership for Higher Education, Innovation and Reform (SPHEIR), that few years ago the participating institutions including MMCE&T, Njala University, Freetown Teachers College, University of Sierra Leone, Eastern Polytechnic and the Ernest Bai Koroma University met rotationally to write the proposal to bring quality education to the educational system.
Professor Roney Frazer-Williams continued that 279 countries worldwide applied for the project, that only 27 won including Sierra Leone, that Kings College in the United Kingdom and the University of Illinois in America supported the project with 4 million Pounds Sterling for between 3-5 years, explained that the British Department for International Development (DFID) funded the project through SPHEIR and is managed by the British Council.
“The project is divided into two main phases and aims at creating an enabling environment for the introduction of outcome-based education and moving towards a national qualifications framework supported by complementary quality assurance systems for higher educational institutions in Sierra Leone,” he revealed.
According to Professor Roney Frazer-Williams, the project also aims at supporting the implementation of outcome-based education through strategic curriculum realignment and staff capacity-building observing that most factories in the country complain about the poor graduates produced by universities, the reason they employ foreigners.
Other objectives of the project are stakeholders’ engagement on quality assurance, ensure relevance of curriculum and skills of graduates to key sectors, develop employer engagement strategies across academic clusters and focus on smallholder inputs into higher education system.
Key outputs of the project are post-graduate Diploma in Quality Assurance, outline national qualifications framework and manual, pilot learning management system, improve faculty training, new assessment methods, investment in academic programs and provision of internet facilities and office equipment.
He also underlined that quality assurance training demands accountability from stakeholders, response to globalization changes, global labor market, advanced information technologies, demographic changes, that higher educational institutions are now run like businesses and no longer the traditional way underscoring that only institutions that excel attract funding.
The lead facilitator concluded that in most countries, quality assurance is a prerequisite for accreditation of their programs and institutions that increased enrollment comes with quality challenges and that some major industries give contracts to universities to train their workers.
Earlier, the college’s Registrar, Mr. Sheriffu Bangura, welcomed all to the training.
The PowerPoint presentation was handed over to the Acting Principal for distribution to interested persons.
The question and answer session climaxed the training while the vote of thanks was rendered by Ms. Elizabeth Taylor-Morgan of the Education Department.
To boost youth employment – and combat irregular migration the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Sierra Tropical Limited (STL), one of Sierra Leone’s largest agribusiness companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) late last month (27/08) during the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7).
The agreement stresses the need for Sierra Leonean youth to acquire the skills needed for the local labour market through Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), especially in agriculture and machine maintenance. TVET training materials will be developed by both parties.
“When opportunity, especially to go abroad, is presented, most young people seize it because they presume, they do not have better alternatives at home,” explained Sanusi Savage, Head of the IOM Office in Sierra Leone.
“Job creation for youth and capacity building are crucial for African countries, and this collaboration is fully in line with the objective of TICAD. We are pleased to collaborate with Sierra Tropical Limited and hope to expand our collaboration in other African countries,” added Abdel Moneim Mostafa Hassan, IOM Senior Regional Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa.
Sierra Tropical Limited was established earlier this year by Japan’s Itochu corporation, which acquired holdings of Dole Foods, one of the world’s oldest commercial growers of tropical fruits, especially pineapple. Itochu has announced it will contribute to the development of the local community through the business. Itochu’s plan to begin commercial production of pineapples in the Republic of Sierra Leone follows similar holdings the company operates in Thailand and the Philippines.
Itochu has already started test production of pineapples in Sierra Leone and aspires to commence full-scale commercial production as soon as it can.
Earlier this summer Itochu signaled its plans for human resources development with IOM. Its Sierra Tropical unit plans to increase job opportunities through the business, starting in the Bo District in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone.
In April this year, IOM launched the project Reducing the Risk of Irregular Migration through Promotion of Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Sierra Leone.
The new project, which is funded by the Government of Japan, will contribute to youth and women’s empowerment through vocational and entrepreneurship skills training with private companies, mainly, Sierra Tropical Limited.
In 2017 and 2018, IOM assisted 1,492 stranded Sierra Leoneans with voluntary return along the main African migration routes.
Sierra Leone has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in Africa, indeed in the entire world. Nearly two in three youths in the country are unemployed or underemployed. This reality pushes thousands each year to seek work abroad, often through irregular routes.
The renowned port handler in France with branches in more than 105 countries across the globe, Bolloré Transport and Logistics’ Country Manager, Captain Fabjanko Kokan, has said that investing in human capital is the key to their success in Sierra Leone over the last eight (8) years.
Captain Fabjanko Kokan, Sierra Leone Country Manager of Bolloré Transport
He made this disclosure during a press conference held in the Freetown’s headquarters of Bolloré Transport and Logistics at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay on Tuesday 17th September 2019, where he confirmed that since 2011 when Bolloré Transport and Logistics started operation in Sierra Leone, the company has spent over a million USD on Human Capital Investment in Sierra Leone.
Captain Fabjanko Kokan said that the one million in human capital investment in Sierra Leone comprises the training of over thirty-five (35) Sierra Leoneans in specializing in various fields. He said they were able to benefit from this initiative because that lessened the amount of experts they would employ as now most of their management positions are occupied by Sierra Leoneans. He said that there are skilled people in Sierra Leone,” adding that since 2011 they have recorded success because majority of their managers and 98 % of their staff are Sierra Leoneans.
He expressed confidence in the output of Sierra Leoneans and said they have trained Sierra Leoneans to even operate cranes worth over 10 Million USD.
The Country Manager of Bolloré Transport and Logistics further spoke about the yearly marathon which his company usually undertakes. He said as part of their commitment to humanity, an amount of 3 Euros is deducted from the salary of each workers, with the funds been given to the SOS children village for the proper care of less privileged children in the country. He assured that this coming year, they will expand now on getting onboard several children and disability organizations. He confirmed that this year’s marathon will take place on 25th September 2019.
Captain Fabjanko Kokan further dilated that Bolloré Transport and Logistics has very good relationship with persons around the areas where they operate. He said as part of their corporate philanthropy the company has undertaken the distribution of sponsorship and scholarship programmes in surrounding communities.
Head of Human Resource at Bolloré Transport and Logistics, Madam Abigeal who made very brief remarks at the press briefing said the company as a way of protecting the welfare of its staff has instituted insurance scheme and medical facilities for workers, their spouse and immediate dependants. She said yearly Bolloré Transport and Logistics spends over 2 Billion Leones on medical of their staff.
The press conference was climaxed by a question and answer session.
In a very swift and calculated manner the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has vehemently debunked a social media audio post said to have been authored by one Annie Metzger. The audio contained several allegations and an assertion made by the Annie Metzger relating to a piece of land along the Lumley Beach which she is claiming was leased but was illegally withdrawn and later demolished.
According to the Ministry and its Board, the lease that was granted to Metzger was legally withdrawn after she failed to fulfill a stipulated condition for leasehold on the said piece of land. They disclosed that in 2000 the land was allocated to her on the condition that she starts development within six months otherwise it will be considered null and void as provided for in the Development of Tourism Act 1990.
“She failed on several occasions to meet the stipulated condition although extension deadlines were offered and after fourteen years of barely any development the allocation was duly withdrawn,” an official explained.
It was further understood that Annie Metzger refused to vacate the piece of land leading the Ministry and Board to recourse to litigation. The court delivered verdict in favour of the Board to repossess the land. However, after the judgment the disenchanted Metzger resorted to making frivolous accusations and deliberately assassinating the characters of officials of the Ministry and Board.
The latter has made it categorically clear that if Annie Metzger is dissatisfied with the judgment she has the right to file an appeal to claim that she is the rightful owner of the said piece of land.
They stated that they are admonishing her to desist from smearing the image of the Ministry and officials of its Board claiming that all her allegations are baseless and unfounded.
In another related issue the Ministry and Board is reminding all developers of land within Tourism Development Areas (TDAs) that the Development of Tourism Act provides for the withdrawal of allocated pieces of land not developed within the stipulated timeframe and/or wherein developers deviate from the approved design of their projects.
Pleasant Children Foundation (PCF), a non-governmental organization, that is geared towards promoting education for children has on Wednesday 18th September, 2019 donated school items worth over millions of Leones to 250 Children during their annual event which was tagged “Each one Educate One Campaign to Send Orphan, Street Children and Less Privileged Kids to School” at the Rokel community Centre, Rokel Village in the Western Area Rural District.
In her address to the audience, Marian Pleasant Kargbo, Chief Executive Officer/ Founder Pleasant Children Foundation (PCF), disclosed that during the past four years her organization has been working tremendously in order to support children within the Western Rural District with scholarships and school items worth millions of Leones. She added that funding was a major challenge to actualize the gesture but extended thanks to the Centre Foursquare Gospel Church USA for serving as the major sponsor by supporting 100 children furthering in extending gratitude humanitarians who believe in what their organization stands for and the work they have been doing over the years.
She called on humanitarian organizations and individuals to support them in order to help more children, adding that their dream this year was to target 500 children but because they were financial challenged they were only able to cater for 250 children but said with additional support they can still cater for the reaming 250. She said that this year they also included teen mothers by sending them to school.
Deputy Chairman, Western Area District Council, Robert A. Browne, on behalf of the Council thanked Pleasant Children Foundation for the gesture saying it is not only important but also timely as pupils in the Western Area Rural District are really challenged with school materials.
He admonished pupils to take their studies serious underscoring how education is the key to success, adding that education is a process of learning that one goes through in order to become somebody in society. In that vein he encouraged them to take this is an opportunity for them to achieve their dreams and become great people in society who will in return give back to society.
He made his commitment on behalf the Western Area District Council that they will always give support to the organization in order to promote education in the District.
Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs Mohamed Haji-Kella, who was also in attendance, said that their Ministry is committed in dealing with children issues across the country. He appreciated the Pleasant Children Foundation for the donation adding that as a Government they are committed to providing quality education.
He admonished parents and children to desist from examination malpractices as he said such will hinder them in the future but encouraged them to take their study serious as education is the key to success.
Mariama Kamara, a beneficiary and a teen mother thanked the Foundation for sending her to school again stating that hitherto accessing school learning materials was really a huge challenge for her.
She called on other humanitarian organization to support the Foundation in order for them to continue to benefit from programmes or projects that they will be implementing.
In its mission to step up and strengthen the health system in the country ICAP has ended their Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Change Package Scale-up and Maternal Child Health QI project on Friday 6th September 2019.
The ceremony which took place at the Bintumani Hotel provided ICAP the opportunity to showcase their successes of implemented projects, present change packages for scale up to other health facilities, and discuss sustainability and scale-up plans.
ICAP, supported by CDC, partnered with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (Directorate of RMNCH, the NIPCU and National QoC) to improve compliance to Partograph utilization at Hospital level by tracking all the 5 output/ process measures of Hospitals across Port Loko, Kambia and Western Area Urban Districts.
In her remarks, ICAP Country Director, Dr. Haja Mame Awa Toure pointed out that since August 2015; ICAP has been supporting Quality Improvement (QI) capacity building in Sierra Leone.
She maintained that a vital component of these activities has been focused on empowering facility-level teams to design and implement QI projects to enhance infection prevention and control (IPC) and Maternal Health Care through the use of Partograph and monitoring of vital signs.
She stated that to help bridge the gap between best practice and common practice on IPC to these four selected hospitals, ICAP spread the IPC RIM full charge package to the labor wards in collaboration with NIPCU.
She noted that the implementation of the QI project was as a result of a rapid situation assessment that showed low compliance in the use of Partograph across the four districts and poor IPC compliance was also noted during the assessment.
Improving maternal health is one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which has seen Government, NGOs, and individuals devote efforts in achieving it. Although the maternal mortality ratio has declined by 45 percent worldwide, the proportion of mothers that do not survive childbirth compared to those who do-in developing regions is still 14 times higher than in developed regions (United Nations, 2015). It is estimated that about 830 women die from pregnancy – or childbirth-related complications around the world everyday (WHO, 2016).
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Public Health Information Prevention Control and Workforce Specialist, Hassan Banya disclosed that in 2014 CDC started its operations in Sierra Leone during the Ebola outbreak.
He referenced that in 2017 CDC established a country office in Freetown to support global health security agenda and they are working in four areas and their operation is with the Ministry of Health.
World Health Organization (WHO) National Professional Officer (NPO), Princess Musu Maral said WHO is giving technical support to Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
She pointed out that IPC is keen to quality improvement as it is the backbone citing that they have to ensure hospitals are infection free.
Ministry of Health and Sanitation National Quality Reproductive and Child Health Management Program Manager, Margaret Titty expressed hope and sustainability of the lesson they have achieved and learned.
She noted that the data will go down further by the next three months and whatever gains they have achieved in those districts they are going to maintain it.
The selected four hospitals in the four districts are 34 Military hospital, Lungi, Kambia and Port Loko Government hospitals.
