Report January-March 2010

Child beneficiaries

Mothers’ club members

On 27th April 2010,  Sierra Leone independence day, the Government of Sierra Leone  launched free health care services for children under five, pregnant women and breasting feeding mothers. This is to tackle the devastating mortality and morbidity rates among children and pregnant women. Most of SLRCS’s clinics will be used as Peripheral Health Units and will be supported by government.

Achievements this quarter:

1. Construction of 32 latrines is now under way.
2. 39 trainer volunteers in 13 villages received training on good hygiene and health practices.
3. 7,000 people were reached in an awareness-raising campaign on the prevention and control of Lassa Fever, Malaria and TB.
4. 341 children under 5 years were referred to the nearest health facilities for growth monitoring.
5. 542 children under 5 years of age were traced and referred for immunisation.
6. 520 Red Cross Volunteers in 13 branches participated in a Government led four-day nationwide Immunisation Campaign against Polio for children under 5 years. Vaccination of over 900,000 under fives was achieved against the crippling disease.
7. To promote safe and clean deliveries, SLRCS delivered hygiene materials to the District Health Management Team in Koinadugu branch. This included items such as dettol, toilet soap,  rubber bowls, scrubbing brushes and blankets.
8. 26 schools (10,557 pupils) across all branches benefited from drama performances conducted by 280 Youth Peer Educators to raise awareness on HIV and AIDS.
9. Health Promotional talks on HIV and AIDS prevention control, care and mitigation were carried out by 280 Youth Peer Educators in 41 communities across all branches, reaching 500 young people
10. Home visits were undertaken by 260 Youth Peer club volunteers across all branches to talk to households about the dangers of early marriage, teenage pregnancy and contraceptive use. A total of 3,000 people were reached during the period.

Constructing a latrine

Drama Group - education

During the remainder of the year, SLRCS plan to do the following:

1. Build five birthing houses in Koinadugu and four other branches.
2. Conduct refresher training for 360 volunteers on promoting good hygiene, clean water and sanitation, and 40 volunteers on Lassa fever prevention and control.
3. Conduct quarterly meetings to strengthen Mother’s Clubs, Traditional Birth Attendants, hygiene promoters, malaria keep-up volunteers, and Youth Peer Educators.
4. Conduct quarterly sensitisation about malaria, Lassa Fever, TB, immunization and HIV.
5. Provide seeds and tools for the mothers’ club garden, and carry out house-to-house visits.
6. Train Youth Peer Educators on drama and stage monthly outreach performances.
7. Provide home based care kits containing medical items needed for self-treatment.
8. Provide income generating activities for people living with HIV and AIDS.

A more detailed report is available in .pdf format, via this link.

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