How HCW is responding to the COVID-19 outbreak 

How you can help:  The Child Reintegration Centre and Mercy Hospital are providing the villages they serve with hygiene supplies to help stem the spread of disease, including hand washing stations, soap, disposable towels (serviettes), and dust bins.  The CRC will help the most vulnerable families get through this crisis by providing them with half bags of rice, enough to sustain a family of four or five for a month.  To contribute to our COVID response, click on the link below.

Sierra Leone, like the rest of the developing world, has been deeply affected by the worldwide pandemic.  (See the most up to date information about infection and death rates here: www.bing.com/covid/local/sierraleone.)  

Because the memory of the Ebola crisis is very fresh in the collective conscious of Sierra Leone, there has understandably been much fear and apprehension about this new pandemic.  The Child Reintegration Centre and Mercy Hospital have been on the front lines addressing the needs and concerns of the community, providing education, practical care, and food supplementation.   

Although COVID infections have been concentrated in the population center of Freetown, the virus has presented in most districts.  The Sierra Leonean temporarily government closed schools in March and issued a shelter at home order with a prohibition on cross-district travel.  Thankfully, schools were able to reopen in October 2020.   We are happy to report that no CRC students contracted the virus.  

SIERRA LEONE COUNTRY DATA  (www.one.org/africa/about/policy-analysis/covid-19-tracker) 

Critical Health Information

• Hospital Beds (per 10K people): 4
• Life Expectancy (years): 54.3
• Share of Population Living in Extreme Poverty: 40.1 %
• Population Density: 106  (per sq. km.)
• Total Population: 7,813,215
• Median Age: 19.4 (years)

Food Insecurity and Malnutrition

• Food Cost Inflation: 16.6 %  
• Proportion of people with insufficient food intake:  53.2 %
• Children (under 5) with acute malnutrition:  9.5 %
• Children (under 5) with chronic malnutrition:  37.8 %

---

A message from Jinnah Lahai, Mercy Hospital Administrator:

"To prepare for the possibility of COVID-19 positive patients presenting at Mercy Hospital, Dr. Rashid and the lab team are setting up the research lab consistent with Ebola protocols.   We have formed a task force comprised of highly experienced medical personnel in preparation for handling any suspected cases.  We have reviewed our triage form to include the signs and symptoms of COVID.  Hand sanitizing stations are positioned at all strategic entry points.  A steel gate has been erected at the main entrance into the ward to reinforce patient and staff safety. 

Above all, God has been put first at Mercy by setting up a special six man intercessory team. For the past weeks fasting and prayers have been observed on scheduled dates set by the team.   With God by our side, we are on course. Thank you for your concern. "

---

Global COVID tracker

​​Click here for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation's COVID updates. 

---

Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Freetown (April 1, 2020)
Location: Sierra Leone (countrywide)
Event:  Nationwide Lockdown, Sunday to Tuesday, April 5-7
  
Sierra Leone has recorded its first cases of COVID-19.  President Bio declared a state of emergency and has convened the Government of Sierra Leone COVID-19 response team.  There will be a nationwide lockdown on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, April 5-7.  All individuals in Sierra Leone are required to stay at home during this three-day period.  Saturday, April 4 is National Cleaning Day and restrictions on movement will be in place Saturday morning.  Please monitor local media sources for information on any additional restrictions that will be put in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  The U.S. Embassy will send updates as information is confirmed.  Rumors spread rapidly on social media.  We encourage you to visit the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health website for COVID information.

The U.S Embassy in Freetown is working to facilitate a special flight through Satguru Travel Agency for U.S. citizens and those eligible to travel to or transit through the U.S.  U.S visa holders also are eligible to purchase tickets on this flight, but priority will be given to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents.  You must have a valid visa before purchasing a ticket.  The consular section is closed for routine consular services and is not able to process visa applications at this time.

The potential flight—ASKY/Ethiopian Airways—will transit through Lomé en route to Newark, New Jersey.  The flight will be tentatively scheduled to depart on Friday, April 10th.  This is subject to change.    
U.S. citizens who live in or seek to travel to the United States should arrange for immediate departure to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain in place for an indefinite period.  Further flight cancellations and suspensions can occur with little or no warning, making availability limited and unpredictable.  Your travel plans may be severely disrupted, and you may be forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite time frame.

Sierra Leone confirms first case of COVID-19
WHO Africa
Freetown, 31/3/2020 

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation of the Republic of Sierra Leone has reported the country’s first case of COVID-19. Samples tested at the Military 34 Hospital, and two other accredited laboratories to detect the virus, in the capital Freetown turned out positive on the evening of 30 March 2020.

The patient, a 37-year-old Sierra Leonean Male, had travelled to France on 12 March 2020. He returned on 16 March 2020 and was immediately put in mandatory managed quarantine for 14 days. He was tested at the end of his quarantine period when he developed flu-like symptoms that subsequently led to the confirmation as COVID-19.

“We have now shifted from preparedness to response. We must now focus on tracing the people that the patient may have come in contact with to be able to isolate and provide them with medical care,” said Evans Liyosi, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Sierra Leone.
“The coming days and weeks will be crucial. With robust prevention and treatment measures we can stop widespread infections not only in the capital but across the country. We are working with the health authorities and other partners, providing the support needed to adequately tackle the virus,” said Mr Liyosi.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak was declared, WHO has provided technical and material support to countries in Africa. The Organization has supplied personal protective equipment for health workers and other essential equipment for screening and handling suspect cases at airports and other points of entry. Here in Sierra Leone, there have been focused public health and additional interventions instituted to promote prompt case identification and confirmation, protection of frontline health workers and screening of travelers.
​
While there is still much to learn about COVID-19, people can take actions to prevent the disease through simple, day-to-day measures.  These include regular hand washing with soap and water; coughing into a tissue or a bent elbow, being sure to safely dispose of the tissue afterwards; maintaining a social distance, particularly from individuals coughing; avoiding hand shaking, touching the eyes, nose and mouth; and seeking medical attention early if a person develops a fever or cough.