23 episodes
COVID-19 Updates from PIH-Sierra Leone PIH Sierra Leone
-
- News
The COVID-19 situation in Sierra Leone, and its impact on health care overall, is ever-evolving. We invite you to stay in the know by listening to these real-time updates, in which Jon Lascher, executive director of Partners In Health-Sierra Leone, speaks with staff about the latest news and efforts to combat COVID-19 and protect the health of Sierra Leone.
----------
Partners In Health (PIH) began working in Sierra Leone in 2014, during the height of history's worst Ebola outbreak. Throughout West Africa, the epidemic destroyed already fragile health systems. PIH has been working to build back and improve health care in Sierra Leone, with a particular focus on Kono, an eastern, rural district that was hard-hit by not only Ebola, but also the country's brutal civil war and decades of impoverishment.
Now, alongside the rest of the world, Sierra Leone is faced with another deadly infectious disease outbreak: COVID-19. In partnership with the government of Sierra Leone, PIH is responding to COVID-19 throughout the country, while also maintaining routine medical care and our overall mission to strengthen the health system in Kono.
Tenki ya for listening!
-
Covid-19 Cases Increase in Kono
Today Jon speaks with Ahmidu Barrie, PIH SL's Director of Operations for an update on Covid-19 in Kono District. Ahmidu is managing the emergency response for PIH in Kono District, while also making sure our ongoing operations are maintained. We hear from Ahmidu on what the increase in cases means for Kono District, and for PIH Sierra Leone.
-
Black Lives Matter
The President of Sierra Leone and the Minister of Health and Sanitation visited the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching hospital on June 4th. We will hear from the head of that hospital, Dr. Abdul Jalloh, and two PIH SL staff members who have been overseeing our partnership: Umaru Sheriff and Alpha Sesay.
Before the interviews this week, I am including an abridged version of the remarks I gave at the event with the President and Minister of Health. I feel it is important, especially as a white American to comment on what is happening right now in America. Full remarks can be found here.
Please consider supporting the Equal Justice Initiative in the U.S. -
The First Covid-19 Cases in Kono District, a Conversation with Dr. Marta Patiño
Dr. Marta Patiño, PIH Sierra Leone's Internal Medicine Physician, has been working at Koidu Government Hospital for two years and has been helping to prepare our clinical team for eventual Covid-19 cases over the last two months. Last week, the day we were preparing for, arrived. The first cases of Covid-19 arrived in Kono, and we hear from Dr. Patiño about how the hospital is managing during this time.
-
A 120 Bed Community Care Center Opens in Freetown
Today, Jon travels just outside Freetown to attend the opening ceremony for the 120 bed community care center that PIH's infrastructure team helped to retrofit over the last 2 weeks. The new repurposed facility will provide additional treatment beds for positive Covid-19 patients who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. Dr. Idris, from the national case management pillar, and the coordinator in charge of the facility provides an update.
-
Nurses Rock! Celebrating International Nurses Day in Sierra Leone!
Today, Jon Lascher speaks with Vicky Reed, Director of Nursing, and Isata Dumbuya, Maternal and Child Health lead. Both Vicky and Isata are celebrating International Nurses Day today with their teams in Kono, and they share what inspired them to become nurses. As Isata says in the episode, "Nurses rock".
Thank you to all of the incredible nurses caring for patients around the world! -
Dr. Marta Lado Checks in from 34 Military Hospital
Today, Jon travels to the main COVID-19 hospital in Sierra Leone, the 34 Military Hospital, and checks in with Dr. Marta Lado, PIH-Sierra Leone's chief medical officer. Dr. Lado has been seeing COVID-19 patients since the outbreak reached Sierra Leone six weeks ago, and shares updates on how staff, stuff, space, and systems are coming together at the hospital to provide COVID care.
She also gives a shout-out to all of the nurses at 34 Military, in Kono, and around the country: "the core of the health care system." Happy Nurses Week!