Maternal and newborn mortality rates are high in Sierra Leone, with 122 deaths per 1,000 live births. Geographic access limits pregnant women and children from reaching health services, especially since very few villages are connected to a main road. Barriers to accessing quality healthcare are especially prevalent in Tikonko, one of 14 chiefdoms in Bo District located in Sierra Leone’s Southern Province. Large sections of Tikonko were completely destroyed during Sierra Leone’s civil war.  

One Day’s Wages partnered with Rural Health Care Initiative to improve maternal and child health outcomes in Tikonko Chiefdom. Our partnership expanded child health services through newborn home visits, an immunization program for young children, malaria case management, outreach clinics, and financial support for children with acute illness requiring hospitalization. Children with malnutrition received specialized treatment that included cooking demonstrations for caregivers. Health services for pregnant, postpartum, and lactating mothers were provided through a women’s health clinic and financial support for obstetric emergencies requiring hospitalization. The capacity of Tikonko’s health workers grew significantly through in-depth trainings on newborn care, immunizations, and malnutrition. As a result, there was a large decrease in child hospitalizations this year, there were no maternal deaths in the project area, and the two health posts supported by the program have the highest rate of childhood vaccine compliance (95%) in the district!