The UK is providing the Sierra Leone Government with £16m (approximately $23.75 million) for the Reproductive and Child Health program (RCH), which was launched by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation in 2008.


According to Ivan Lewis, minister of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), “The lives of many mothers could be saved with access to basic health care and the help of a midwife – things that are normal for us but out-of-reach for the world’s poorest.” The RCH program will provide training for new midwives, and access to better clinics and basic drugs - fundamental changes that can be expected to save thousands of lives. The plan also includes a program of increased immunizations, malaria awareness, and the promotion of basic hygiene to reduce the number of preventable deaths from diarrhea.


From the DFID press release:
“The £16m funding from the UK will support:
* emergency obstetric care for pregnant women - this will include access to medical facilities, trained midwives and advice on family planning. The programme funded jointly with the UN will also give a fresh push on immunisation against diseases like measles and tetanus and create a feeding programme to provide nutrition to those who are suffering malnutrition.


* direct support to primary health clinics and district hospitals - DFID and the World Bank will create a pool fund to provide health care facilities run by district councils with direct funding to deliver basic health services.


* effective resource management - DFID will provide technical assistance to ensure money is spent on what it is intended for by rooting out payments to “ghost workers” and tracking how resources are spent.


* urgent roll out to priority districts - short-term funding will be provided to a group of NGOs to ensure the Reproductive and Child Health Plan is implemented as quickly as possible in five priority areas of Sierra Leone (Bo, Tonkolili, Bombali, Koinadugu, Kono).