Our Current project

King Charles Children’s Health Clinic, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Providing Emergency Life Changing Support: 

The construction of a children’s health clinic and the provision of a paediatric and maternal health service in rural Sierra Leone.

Project Lead-Agency

Conforti Community Aid Children Organisation, or for short Conforti, is a small but highly respected, Registered Non-Governmental Organisation that contributes to the realization of the rights of children in poverty. It does this through the capacity strengthening of communities, direct service provision, and advocacy at grassroots, national, and international levels.  Because of its innovation, diligence, and accountability, Conforti Community Aid Children Organisation won an award ‘Pan African Award for Entrepreneurship in Education’ in 2008. Conforti has a strong relationship with government ministries and has worked closely and collaboratively with at both district and national health levels to improve the situation of children and women in Sierra Leone.

Theme ‘Let Love Lead and Save Lives’.

      Mission

The maternal mortality rate in Sierra Leone is the highest in the world with 1,360 mothers dying in every 100,000 live births. The mortality rates of neonates, infants, and children under five are also amongst the highest globally at 34, 82, and 111 deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively (as reported by UNICEF).

This problem was made real to Conforti when we started working in the community of Masita and witnessed children being placed on wheelbarrows at night to travel five miles to access medical facilities. In the process, during our visit, two children died before reaching the health post at 4 Mile Junction at Waterloo Rural District, Freetown. This harrowing experience motivated us to begin working with community members to build a local health clinic for children and their mothers.

 

Vision

Mission

Children in Sierra Leone receive quality education, are empowered for their protection, and develop to their fullest potential
To advocate for and provide access to quality education, mental health, and protection services, and economic empowerment/livelihood for children and families through partnership with communities, government, and organizations that share similar views

Community Response to the Problem

Conforti and the four communities are providing volunteer labour, appealing for donations of local materials and skilled labour, and working to raise funds for the construction of a health clinic to address this pressing issue and save the lives of children and pregnant/ post-natal women. A plot of land has been donated, land clearing has been done by volunteers with the support of the Headmen and community stakeholders. The District Council has approved and certificated the land for community health purposes and the building of the clinic.

Conforti is now fundraising to construct a five-room healthcare facility with an Office for the Chief Health Officer, a store, a waiting room, an observation room, and a maternity room. A toilet facility will be built for good sanitation and hygiene (utilising repurposed rain water for flushes), together with a well to ensure clean and constant water both in and outside the building, which will be powered by solar power.

The project is working with two Ministries (Ministry Of Social Welfare and The Ministry Of Health and Sanitation). We will also partner with the Western Area Rural District Council and the District Health Medical Health Team through the Ministry Of Health and Sanitation to provide clinical health services for children and families in the four identified communities.

Project Outcomes

 

  1. A health management team comprised of Conforti, stakeholders from the four affected communities and a representative from the health sector.

  2. Construction of a five-room clinic in Masita village to cover Foya, Gbonkoyeleh, and MacKoi-Bondu, to include toilets water facilities and a security fence.

  3. Reduction in child and infant mortality in the communities.

  4. Provision of a 24/7 First Response Service provided by community health workers on electric bicycles