Why Sierra Leone?
The United Nations has termed Sierra Leone the world’s least developed country. Moreover, according to the Global Hunger Index, Sierra Leone ranks 115 among 119 countries for the highest child mortality, poorest nutritional status of the existing child population, and most restricted economic access to food.
More than a quarter of Sierra Leone's child population has not survived:
- 15.9% infant mortality
- 27% of children do not live to see their 5th birthday
Nearly half of Sierra Leone's infant/child population is malnourished:
- 9% of children under five years of age are severely malnourished
- 27% are underweight
- 28% are below average height
- Approximately 40% are considered chronically malnourished
Food prices are increasing sharply rendering the general population to be susceptible to further malnutrition.
- 70% live below the poverty line
- 26% cannot afford the daily caloric requirements
- The price of rice has more than doubled in the past year
- The current rice supply (both imported and local) fails to meet consumption needs
What We're Doing to Help
Malnutrition
ACEC has partnered with local organizations in Sierra Leone to battle malnutrition and are supporting an initiative that trains women within the community to educate mothers on child health and the ability to identify malnourished children and seek proper treatment. We will fund the construction of a therapeutic feeding center (TFC) in the Port Loko district, an area with over 11,000 children estimated to be severely malnourished.
The TFC will admit malnourished children who are in dire need of proper nutrition. These children have deficiencies in nutrients that are essential for growth (e.g. iron, sodium and potassium). The therapeutic feeding center will provide inpatient treatment to replenish these vital nutrients using F75 and F100 high energy milk in two phases. Phase 1 is the recovery phase and incorporates the use of F75 milk to treat abnormal metabolism. Phase 2 is implemented when the child is stabilized and utilizes F100 milk to enhance weight gain and reduce mortality. The children will be weighed daily to monitor and document their progress. Also, caregivers will be educated on preventive measures to ensure that their child does not relapse.
Upon discharge, we will provide children and their families with “plumpy'nut” to ensure that the children will continue to receive the nutrients they need to grow and remain healthy. As part of a supplementary feeding program, trained community nutrition workers will continue to make home visits to monitor progress, replenish “plumpy'nut” and provide support and follow-up care to these children and their families.
We firmly believe in the benefits of integrating clinical medicine, public health, and education into our approach. Through strategic partnerships we can holistically address the overall unmet need for malnourished children and make measurable differences in the battle against hunger.
Acute Medical Care
ACEC conducted its first trip to Sierra Leone from mid-June to mid-July in 2008. The team provided acute medical care and medicines at no cost to over 500 patients at mobile primary care clinics in five villages. Among the patients seen in the clinic, malaria and fever were the most commonly seen conditions. As malnutrition is a common co-morbidity of malaria, micronutrient supplements were dispensed to children as well as to pregnant women.
Due to an extreme shortage of medical professionals in the country, we are recruiting healthcare professionals to accompany us on future visits to Sierra Leone. We will host day clinics to treat common medical problems that are easy to diagnose and treat in one visit. This will also serve as an opportunity to refer patients with symptoms of malnutrition to our TFC.
Our efforts to expand our network in Sierra Leone will drive the successful impact of our clinics and outreach programs.
Are you a healthcare professional interested in providing your time and skills? Get involved.
Medical Supplies
To provide our partner clinics in Sierra Leone with highly needed medical equipment and supplies, large amounts of these items have already been shipped (worth approx. $20,000) thanks to our donors and sponsors.
To achieve our goals as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, we are continuously pursuing partnerships with institutions willing to donate medical equipment and supplies, as well as with international shipping companies willing to sponsor our shipments.
Would you like to donate supplies or assist with overseas shipping? Get involved.
Health Education
As a means of cultivating a relationship with the local community, ACEC will sponsor health-related events such as forums which aim to educate young children. We also plan to develop customized health education programs for specific regions based on their individual unmet needs.
ACEC is sponsoring a soccer tournament for children in the Bo District. This tournament will take place in February 2009. The intention is to create a fun and lively environment where children can learn about healthy living. As soccer is a widely popular sport in Sierra Leone, this event will serve as an opportunity to access and influence the local child community.
We are providing each child with an "ACEC Health Kit". This health kit will be filled with necessities for basic hygiene such as toothbrush, toothpaste, wash towel, soap, etc. We will also provide fresh fruit and water for the children during the game.
Soccer tournaments and other community events are an ideal platform for children to be engaged and local health professionals to share important health tips. We aim to develop community-specific health education programs in this manner focusing on malaria, vaccinations, HIV prevention, and family planning.
