It remains an unquestionable fact that Sierra Leone is amongst the Countries with the highest Maternal Mortality Ratio in the World, where 1, 165 Women die out of every 100, 000 Live Births despite the untiring efforts by Successive Governments and Developments Partners to save Mothers from this hazard. There have been repeated appeals for Humanitarian Organizations to invest in Maternal Health Services as it is crucial to the socioeconomic development of any Country. But it appeared the response has not been quite commensurate to what is actually required for putting a final end to this age old threat. One of the potential reasons for the apparent failure to have put a final end to this menace is the lack of a thorough research on the causes for Maternal Mortality or the absence of proper structures.
The St. John of God Catholic Hospital which is popularly known as ‘Mabessaneh Hospital of Lunsar’ seems to have come out with a formidable solution following a series of surveys in its Catchment Areas. The Surveys started way back in 2014 when the Management of the Hospital realized that many Pregnant Women were deprived of Safe Deliveries in the hands of Skilled Attendants because they were suspected of carrying the Ebola Virus. The problem of the Management of the Hospital was how to prevent Pregnant Women especially the Adolescent Pregnant Girls from untimely deaths and how to help them access Health Service Providers in its Catchment Areas. This was the time when the Maternity Unit at the Hospital was closed down for fear of contracting Ebola.
Bro. Michael M. Koroma is the Chief Executive Officer for the Services being provided by the St. John of God Brothers in Sierra Leone. He said the Maternity Unity was reopened in February 2015 with support from CUAAM after a series of deliberations with Madam Isatu Daramy Kabia – to whom the Birth Waiting Home in question is being dedicated. He said in his overview of the Project that the idea for the setting up of a Safe Motherhood. One Stop Center was developed after sharing with her, the perspective of the ‘Pregnancy School’ in Ghana. This is a Center for Health Promotional Activities that caters for First – time Mothers. He said the Service was subsequently adopted by ‘Africa Viva Foundation’ and other “One Stop Center” in Spain after discussing the philosophy and objectives of their Safe Motherhood Home in Lunsar.
The Chief Executive Officer said Africa Viva Foundation and One Stop Center consented to support the Activities of the Safe Mother Home about the same time when CUAAM was also contemplating on how to reduce the influx of Major Delivery and Obstetric Complications into the Maternity Unit from the Catchment Areas. He explained how this resulted to the ongoing funding of [User Fees] by CUAAM. He said the Women were however still arriving late at the Hospital for Service until the revelation of a Survey conducted by some Dutch Students that were on Working Experience at the Hospital. The Survey, Bro. Michael M. Koroma went on, outlined ‘Distance’ as the Major obstacle preventing Women to come on time for Safe Delivery Services. It was this he said, that resulted to the introduction of the Ambulance Service with the aim to address the issue of Distance for Pregnant Women. He explained how the 2016 Statistics indicated a Higher Percentage of Risk Pregnancies which subsequently led to the provision of Free Services for High Risk Women at the Antenatal Clinic Unit of the Hospital. ‘It was this notion that we actually developed to the keeping of Pregnant Women in the Ward for a period of 2 Weeks to combat High Risk Pregnancies and Fresh Stillbirths’ – the Chief Executive Officer reiterated.
Bro. Michael M. Koroma said they therefore resolved in the training of Staff Members to handle such case after it was realized that it was a difficult burden for Management with regards Revenue Generation. He said his Management became finally convinced in 2018 that the keeping of Pregnant Women of high risk for a period of 2 weeks at a Transit Home before delivery could be the best option. He said the Survey Report which established the necessity for the existence of a Birth Waiting Home was done in 2018 while the Project Implementation was started in 2019 with funds from CUAAM. He said it was Africa Viva Foundation that paid a one year rent for the Home they tentatively used until 2020 when funds were made available for the relocation of the Birth Waiting Home to the Hospital Compound – a building that has now been dedicated to Madam Isatu Daramy Kabia. While expressing profound thanks and appreciation to CUAAM, Africa VIVA Foundation, St. John of God Brothers and all those who contributed in diverse ways in the actualization of this dream, Br. Michael M. Koroma said, his Management will now focus on a set of goals. These include – Adolescent Health, Gender Based Violence, Family Planning, Cervical Cancer, Post Natal Care and Child Health. He therefore zeroed with a passionate appeal for support to the Government of Sierra Leone, the Port Loko District Council and other Stakeholders as they progress in Partnership with UNFPA.
The Unveiling of the Maternity Waiting Home in Lunsar was graced by Dr. Kim Eva Dickson who said she was inspired in knowing that the Facility was started in a rented Building with support from Partners and has now able to construct such a decent Structure. She expressed delight in noting that over 32 Pregnant Women between the ages of 16 and 40 years from several parts of the Country have had Safe Deliveries in this Facility and have since returned to their respective Places. She said Maternity Waiting Homes are an innovative way to reduce distance to health facilities which is often a key barrier to the utilization of Maternal Health Services People in Rural Communities. The UNFPA Country Representative noted that the delay in making decision to seek Health Facilities, to reach those Facilities and receiving appropriate Care, are some of the main barriers responsible for the lots and lots of Maternal Deaths. She cited instances of Countries where Pregnant Women go to stay at Health Facilities but could not receive timely care and ended up developing complications that have even resulted to the deaths of both the Mother and Baby. She therefore implored the Gathering to view this Facility as the beginning of a new chapter for regaining the trust and confidence of Pregnant Women, Families and Communities in the usefulness of such intervention and for it to be replicated elsewhere in the Country.
Dr. Kim Eva Dickson commended the Government of Sierra Leone for prioritizing Maternal Health in the Free Health Care Initiative and urged it to continue. She said UNFPA is committed to supporting the initial phase of the St. John of God’s Hospital Initiative by dedicating funds amounting to USD 53,000. She said her office will also provide selected equipment to support health services and subsidize Maternity Services in line with the Free Health Care Policy. She further promised to provide food for Women admitted to the Maternity Waiting shelter in Lunsar. She therefore entertained the hope that the Shelter will soon be self – sustaining so as not to continue to depend on Donor support for too long. She concluded by thanking Madam Isatu Daramy Kabia for her passion in serving the Community and for spearheading the establishment of the Facility and encouraged all to emulate her example.
Similar sentiments were expressed by the Health Coordinator for CHASL Ms. Florence Bull. She said CHASL is a that coordinates the activities of all Christian Health Activities in the Country with a view to ensure that good quality Health Care is accessed by all. She expressed optimism that Maternal Mortality will be reduced by the existence of a Waiting Home for Pregnant Women. She was buttressed by Mr. Giampaolo de Notaris – CUAAM’s Country Director in Sierra Leone. He observed that the St. John of God is one of the Faith Based Institutions that portrays high discipline and quality care for Maternal Service. He therefore reassured its Management of his continued support adding that UNFPA has made a good choice to support the Hospital.
