Integrated Health Services Support Brighter Futures in Sierra Leone

On a hot afternoon in Binkoloh, in Sierra Leone’s northern Bombali district, Elizabeth Sesay prepares to take her youngest child Silas to the local health clinic for a well child visit. Silas has just turned one, meaning he’s now eligible for a several important health services that will help ensure he grows up healthy.

At the clinic, nurse Kadiatu Kamara examines Silas and then provides him with his second dose of vitamin A, an essential micronutrient that protects health and vision.

 “This small capsule makes a big difference,” she says. “Two doses a year can contribute to the reduction of childhood illness such as diarrhea, cold, and cough, which are common in children under five.”

Today, Silas also receives his first deworming treatment as well as vaccinations for multiple potentially serious childhood illnesses, including measles, polio, and whooping cough. Taking a holistic approach means parents are supported during these visits too, with Elizabeth receiving counseling on breastfeeding, child nutrition, and family planning.

Life-Saving Visits Provide Holistic Care

Despite making significant progress in recent years, rates of maternal, infant, and child mortality in Sierra Leone remain among the highest in the world. Improving access to comprehensive, integrated maternal and child health and nutrition services provides the vital care needed to protect the health and lives of mothers and children across the country.

Helen Keller Intl has partnered with the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health, with support from Comic Relief, to strengthen these health services. More than 480 healthcare workers, like Kadiatu, have received training through the partnership and are now providing these integrated services at more than 240 health clinics across three districts of the country.

Reaching more children with vitamin A has been a critical component of this work. This vital micronutrient helps strengthen children’s vision and immune systems, meaning it can save both their sight and lives.

“Since we started routine supplementation, child survival rates have improved significantly,” says Janet Kabia, a nutritionist with the Directorate of Food and Nutrition in the Ministry of Health. Ensuring children also receive essential vaccinations at these visits helps to further protect them from devastating illnesses that can cause lifelong health problems and threaten their lives.

We trained nurses to counsel mothers about exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, including early initiation, introduction to timely complementary feeding through the promotion of diverse locally available foods, and keeping their children healthy.

Jonathan Ansumana, Helen Keller Intl trainer

Additionally, these visits go even further by helping parents learn to provide good nutrition for their children with education and counseling sessions on breastfeeding and infant and young child nutrition and feeding. Mothers also receive family planning counseling, which can help them protect their own health and well-being.

“We don’t just give out supplements,” says Jonathan Ansumana, a Helen Keller staff member who provides training to healthcare workers. “We trained nurses to counsel mothers about exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, including early initiation, introduction to timely complementary feeding through the promotion of diverse locally available foods, and keeping their children healthy.”

By linking vitamin A supplementation and childhood vaccinations with education and counseling for parents, health clinics are providing holistic, integrated services that support better health and nutrition for entire families.

Ensuring Healthier Families and Futures

Leaving the clinic after Silas’ visit, Elizabeth feels reassured that her son’s health has been protected with vital nutrients, treatments, and vaccines. She is hopeful that these health services will help her son have a healthier, brighter future.

“My biggest dream is for him to go to university and become an accountant,” Elizabeth says.

Silas and Elizabeth are now among the 50,000 children and women Helen Keller and its partners have reached with improved health services in Sierra Leone, which have helped reduce rates of severe malnutrition and child mortality, while supporting healthier families.