James Bunn, Health Advisor at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in Sierra Leone, led a high-level delegation to the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance-Sierra Leone (CHAMPS-SL) site in Makeni on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. The visit focused on evaluating the impact of donor investments in the country’s health sector, particularly efforts to combat under-five mortality.
Eric Kaluma, Deputy Site Director of CHAMPS-SL, provided an overview of the program’s work in Bombali and Bo districts, emphasizing its role in investigating the causes of child deaths through enhanced surveillance. “Through our surveillance program, we aim to gather actionable data that can help local health authorities respond more effectively,” Kaluma said.
The delegation also toured the laboratory, where Dr. Julius Ojulong, Laboratory Manager, demonstrated the advanced equipment used to analyze samples from deceased children. Dr. Ojulong highlighted the importance of preserving these samples in specialized refrigerators to ensure accurate and reliable testing results, crucial for understanding the factors contributing to child mortality.
The visit underscored the collaborative efforts between international donors, local health authorities, and initiatives like CHAMPS-SL, all working to improve child health outcomes in Sierra Leone. The continued support and funding are seen as vital to addressing the country’s high under-five mortality rates and shaping a healthier future for the nation’s youngest citizens.
As discussions continue on the allocation of resources and funding, stakeholders remain hopeful that sustained investment will help reduce child mortality and improve healthcare delivery in Sierra Leone.
