As the efforts to reduce the child and maternal mortality rate throughout Sierra Leone continue, improvements are already being reported in Connaught Hospital, Freetown. In 2008, Connaught Hospital received 15,080 patients, of which 533 died (mortality rate of 3.5%). In 2007, there were 10,079 patients and 459 deaths (mortality rate of 4.5%). While the mortality rate difference of 1% is not overwhelming, the statistics behind the hospital’s work are.


Ibrahim Turay, manager of Connaught Hospital, stated that the hospital received 32% more patients, and 35% more surgical procedures in 2008 than in previous years. A decrease in mortality rate coupled with an increase in patient cases is an achievement for this busy medical center, the main government hospital of Sierra Leone. According to Mr. Turay, the improvements in care are due mostly to the addition of diagnostic tools, including an ECHO cardiogram machine and a CT scanner. Improvements in the forensic lab, diagnostic units, and water supply are slated for 2009.