On Thursday 28th September, our Head Children’s Nurse and Matron from Magbenteh Community Hospital attended a workshop at the Makeni Regional Hospital, led by CHAMPS; the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance Network.
The aim of the workshop was to introduce a new 6-month pilot programme to health facilities across Bombali District, to establish the root causes of deaths in the under-fives and still births, through the collection of accurate and reliable data.
Working alongside the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, representatives from the identified health facilities, including Magbenteh Community Hospital, have been requested to call 117 to ensure every death in the under-fives is reported.
By tracking definitive causes of child mortality in Sierra Leone, high quality data will be produced and therefore public health action accomplished. Furthermore, providing CHAMPS with our data from Magbenteh Community Hospital will strengthen our chances in being able to provide additional services and surveillance infrastructure for the prevention of mortality in children under-five in the future.
With one of the highest child mortality rates in the world, with 120 deaths per 1000 live births, this pilot and Magbenteh Community Hospital’s involvements in CHAMPS pilot programme, is vital in ensuring a greater quality of life for Sierra Leoneans.
