Health in Sierra Leone: A Diaspora Intervention M eeting Summary - PDF document

Health in Sierra Leone: A Diaspora Intervention M eeting Summary Report th 2009 M ay 9 Sir David Davies Lecture Theatre, University College London Summary Report by the Sierra Leone Diaspora Network (SLDN) SLDN is supported by

Overview The Sierra Leone Diaspora Network (SLDN) hosted a meeting for invited Sierra Leonean health professionals in the UK and mainland t h 2009. This meeting was designed with the overall Europe on May 9 aim of bringing together medical professionals and stakeholders in a forum to discuss how best Diasporans can support developments in the health sector, and in addition, to meet the following objectives: To mobilize the Sierra Leone health community in the Diaspora, with a view to harnessing current efforts so as to encourage a more coordinated approach to health intervention in Sierra Leone; To facilitate discourse between Diaspora health professionals and Sierra Leone government health representatives, so as to assess the health priorities on the ground and Diaspora can support government strategies; To conduct a skills audit and to facilitate a live and active forum where Diaspora health professionals (global), the M inistry of Health in Sierra Leone and other partners working in health roles in the UK and Sierra Leone can meet to explore opportunities of working together for the benefit of the health of Sierra Leoneans; To present a comprehensive Volunteering Package for Diasporans, inclusive of flight, accommodation and travel in Sierra Leone. Chaired by Victor Mengot, the conference was divided into two sections: The morning sessions assessed the current state of health within various sub-sectors in Sierra Leone, the needs and how the Diaspora can meet the shortcomings. The afternoon sessions featured a Keynote Address by award-winning Neurologist Dr Radcliffe Lisk, and Guest Speaker Yayah Conteh, the NGO and Donors Liaison Officer at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) – Sierra Leone. These addresses were complemented by case studies by Sierra Leone Diaspora-led organisations currently running projects across Sierra Leone, focusing on the successes and challenges faced.

A copy of the complete program is available at the end of this summary. Brief notes of the presentation are included in this Report; the full presentations are available at www.sliip.org (Reports). Summary of Delegates The Forum brought together health professionals from various disciplines within the S ierra Leone Diaspora. The delegate invitation was compiled by Michael Vincent of MV First Travel and SLDN. There were seventy-eight (78) pre-registrations, with sixty-eight (68) registered attendees. Of this latter group, twenty-nine (29) professionals completed a skills audit form. The information given on these forms served to highlight the keys areas of expertise which would benefit the development of the health sector in Sierra Leone as follows:  Biochemist / Microbiologist  Education and training  Health Economist  Health Information systems expert  HIV / AIDS Project worker  Infant and maternal health care  Medical Doctors  Mental health professionals  Midwives  Nurses  OBGYNs (including at Registrar level)  Pharmacist – Directorate level  Project Strategists and policy developers  Researcher / Auditor  Sickle cell disease experts  Vector Biologist  Ward Managers A full List of Delegates can be found in Appendix B

M orning Presentations: Health Priorities in Sierra Leone: The Statistics and the Threats Opening Victor Mengot opened the meeting by welcoming all participants and extended apologies from His Excellency Mr Melvin Chalobah and Mrs Dunni Chalobah who were unable to attend the meeting due to ill-health. The purpose of this session was to provide current statistics and information on the areas of priorities within the health sector in Sierra Leone, and to highlight what the Diaspora can do to effectively intervene. Infant and M aternal Health Care / M ortality Presentation by Dr. M atthew Clark – The Welbodi Partnership Mission: The Welbodi Partnership works to support the M inistry of Health and Sanitation in Sierra Leone to deliver high quality paediatric care . Dr Clark gave a comprehensive presentation on Welbodi’s work in Sierra Leone, in particular their work at the Ola During Children’s Hospital. He provided statistics which highlighted the dire needs within paediatric care in Sierra Leone. The presentation set out Welbodi’s key principles as well as the three main problems affecting child morbidity and mortality. Finally, Dr Clark made recommendations for Diaspora intervention as follows:  Skilled personnel  Provisions of drugs and equipment  Training programmes  Improved management  Ideas and Innovation / Improvement in standards

HIV / AIDS in Sierra Leone Presentation by Dr. Charles Senessie – The Afro-European M edical and Research Network (AEM RN) In examining Sierra Leone’s fight against HIV/AIDS, Dr Senessie stressed the importance of effective networking and partnership. He provided a background to the current problems faced in Sub-Saharan Africa, showing the increasing number of people affected by the disease. , Dr Senessie also highlighted the critical shortage of health care workers caused by the migration. The needs are many, but focus should remain on:  Getting credible statistics and data to do things better  Dealing with the stigma  Using local wisdom & local ways in SL context to address the issue  Overcoming the digital divide The Threat of M alaria Presentation by Dr Boi-Betty Udom – Roll Back M alaria With 100% of the S ierra Leone population at risk from malaria, Dr Udom spoke about the startling mortality and morbidity rates in S ierra Leone. As well as setting out the aims and objectives of Roll Back Malaria, she also highlighted the key areas of intervention including: disease management; a multiple approach to prevention; a programme focusing on advocacy, information, education & communication, and research. There are two main priorities for 2009-2010, namely the development of a fully functional malaria programme as well as an effective health system.

Recommendations for Diaspora Intervention Diasporans can support existing programmes through the provision of:  Insecticide nets which can eradicate malaria - $7 to get a net (from procurement to beneficiary)  Indoor Residual Spray M ental Healthcare in Sierra Leone Presentation by Amadu Timbo & Emma Orefuwa - M ental Health CPR Traditionally, this is an area of health care that no-one talks about, but mental health is a reality to over 50,000 people (reported cases) in Sierra Leone. In examining the current state of mental health, Amadu Timbo and Emma Orefuwa presented the vision and mission of the organisation, which is to deliver mental health care, promotion and recovery services in order to improve the quality of life for mentally ill people in Sierra Leone. With only one psychiatric hospital and one qualified psychiatrist in the whole country, no training or community care, mentally ill patients face a bleak future without intervention. Diasporans can provide support by: • Volunteering • Fundraising • Networking • Campaigning • Providing expert advice • Brainstorming

Constraints to Primary Health Care Delivery Presentation by Victor M engot An expert on health care delivery in developing countries, Victor Mengot provided a list of current national health priorities, in relation to PHC delivery. Constraints to effective delivery include affordability, accessibility (due to poor roads infrastructure), poor water sanitation, poor maternal health care, lack of medicines, drugs and equipment and a desperate skills gap. Diaspora intervention can be focused on the following:  Assisting the development of outreach programmes  Staff training and mentoring  Project co-ordination  Identification of ‘Best Practices’  Fundraising  Advocacy Water Sanitation Presentation by Paul M assaquoi - Crystal Clear Klin Wata Foundation (CCKWF) Good health in any country cannot be achieved without access to clean water and proper sanitation. Paul M assaquoi, founder of CCKWF provided valuable insight into the water and sanitation problems in Sierra Leone, which include old and ineffective distribution systems, low water tariff and a poor billing system. M ost of the diseases that plague the nation are water borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery and malaria. Over 50% of the nation’s current water production is unaccounted for, as a result of leakages and illegal use. M r