Sierra Leone is one of 30 countries with the highest burden of tuberculosis in the world. Tuberculosis is still the #1 infectious disease killer in the world and containing it during the COVID-19 pandemic had become increasingly difficult in Sierra Leone, as throughout the developing world. (See: COVID-19 effects on tuberculosis care in Sierra Leone.) For the poor, quarantine has heavy economic implications as people lose their daily income, making it even more difficult for families to access health care. In Sierra Leone, the government allowed health facilities to provide patients with enough TB medication for weeks in order to reduce movement and flatten the COVID-19 curve. This may have lead to low treatment adherence with potential consequences for TB cure rates, development of drug resistant TB, and spread in the community. Christina, age 29, was brought to Mercy Hospital complaining of breathing difficulty, cough, and chest pain. She also had back pain radiating to her neck, all classic symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis. Dr. Aruna Stevens admitted her immediately because she was not breathing. A chest X-ray showed a positive result for TB. Mercy's TB focal person commenced intensive treatment for Christina, and she was placed in isolation to prevent the spread of infection. Over the next several days, Christina received intensive respiratory therapy and home care education. When her condition was stabilized, she was released with instructions for self care at home, as well as appropriate medication. "Pulmonary tuberculosis is a very serious and common condition in Sierra Leone," Dr. Stevens explained. "Treatment is available for free, and tuberculosis can be cured if diagnosed early."
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CRC case managers, left to right: Education Manager Mabel Mustapha, Edward Lavalie, CRC Director Olivia Fonnie, Rosa Saffa, Abibatu Abu-Mattia, Victor Kanu, Amie Nallo, Emmanuel Lamin, George Kulanda, Imourana Bockarie, Henry Kebbie, Deborah Kanneh, Assiatu Tarawally, and TCM senior consultant David Musa. WORLD SOCIAL WORK DAY March 16, 2021 is World Social Work Day, the annual celebration of the accomplishments and contributions of global social workers in meeting the unique needs of children, families and communities around the world every day of the year. This year's theme is "Ubuntu: I Am Because We Are – Strengthening Social Solidarity and Global Connectedness." Ubuntu originates from the indigenous peoples of South Africa and was popularized across the world by Nelson Mandela. Ubuntu: ‘I am because we are’ is a philosophy that resonates with the social work perspective of the interconnectedness of all peoples and their environments. It speaks to the need for global solidarity, and also highlights indigenous knowledge and wisdom. Please join us in honoring the dedicated and resourceful social workers of the Child Reintegration Centre, who provide care for more than 500 children and youth from extremely vulnerable families. The CRC social work team provides case management, mentoring, and counseling to help families challenged by extreme poverty to become stable and self-sufficient. Every day, the CRC team is searching for lost and abandoned children on the streets of Bo so they can be rescued and reintegrated with caring families. The CRC's Transition Coaching and Mentoring department is helping orphanages throughout Sierra Leone make the transition from residential to family-based care, so that children can grow up in a a home with parents.
The Child Reintegration Centre case managers hold family strengthening workshops and microfinance training to help the families provide a stable environment for raising their children.
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