Our Partnership with Impact A Life Foundation

An inguinal hernia occurs when tissue, such as part of the intestine, protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles. This results in pain which prevents children from attending school and adults from providing and caring for their families. Inguinal hernias are a common condition, yet an extreme number of inguinal hernia go unrepaired. In fact, hernias are now responsible for more deaths than any other disease in West Africa. Access to healthcare is still a daunting task for rural communities in Sierra Leone. Due to limited funding and poor infrastructure, communities such as in the Bombali region are unable to receive necessary medical attention. Many patients with long standing untreated hernias die each year from strangulation and intestinal obstruction without the benefit of surgical intervention. One in five of inguinal hernias occurred in boys aged four years or less. Sierra Leone has over 6 million people and only 10 registered surgeons.

One Day’s Wages partnered with Impact A Life Foundation (ILF) to provide hernia repair surgeries and post-surgery care. Patients were driven two hours to receive surgery and aftercare at Masanga hospital where they would stay three days to monitor health, medication, and further treatment. ILF also provided community education and training programs for hernia prevention, health and hygiene, and sanitation. The alleviation of further hernias will allow more community members to participate in their jobs and schooling, caring for their families, and building a brighter future!