£16m UK Boost To Save Mothers Lives In Sierra Leone

Main Category: Aid / Disasters
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 05 Apr 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Pregnant women in Sierra Leone - where more women die giving birth than anywhere else in the world - will be given life-saving health-care thanks to a new UK scheme launched today by International Development Minister, Ivan Lewis.

Currently, women in Sierra Leone are 160 times more likely to die during childbirth compared to women in the UK, with women having a one in six chance of dying in childbirth during their lifetime.

The UK will provide £16 million to support the Government of Sierra Leone's Reproductive and Child Health programme (RCH). The scheme will save tens of thousands of lives by providing training for new midwives, better clinics and access to basic drugs.

Speaking after meeting with the President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, in Freetown today, Ivan Lewis said:

"It is shocking that so many mothers die during child-birth in Sierra Leone, leaving children without a mother and families completely devastated.

"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.

"It is right that we give people a fighting chance and that is why the UK is taking action to support pregnant women across Africa".

Launched by the President of Sierra Leone in 2008 the ambitious RCH plan is a much needed kick-start and aims to reduce the number of pregnant women and children dying by 30%. The Plan includes a minimum package of essential health services including:

- Basic health care for pregnant women and children under 5
- Increased immunization to prevent measles and tetanus
- Malaria awareness raising campaign and increase use of treated bednets
- Promote basic hygiene to tackle completely preventable deaths from diarrhoeal illnesses

1. Ivan Lewis travelled to Sierra Leone Tuesday 31st March - Thursday 2nd April. On Wednesday (1st April) Ivan Lewis visited a district hospital and maternity unit in Tonkolili to see how UK support is helping mothers in Sierra Leone deliver their babies safely. He also visited a clinic in Matokaka to see the work of CARE International - supported by DFID - to save the lives of women and children through the provision of treated bednets and education on how to prevent malaria. And visited the Student Partnership Worldwide programme to meet the young people in Sierra Leone who are talking frankly about sex and relationships to tackle HIV and AIDS.

2. The £16 million UK funding 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)

DFID, the Department for International Development: leading the British Government's fight against world poverty.

Source
Department for International Development

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