Health Visit to Bo, February 2025

Dr Nnedi Dede-Konkwo visited Bo to continue the development of our Health Link This was her first visit to Bo and as a representative of OWL. The purpose was to build upon the previous work and to explore the possibilities for the future of the Health link. We are grateful to Nnedi for stepping into this role and to take on such an onerous task.

Reasons for the visit

• It was primarily a scoping visit to identify and establish the important areas and health needs of the people in Bo District for possible collaboration and facilitation by OWL Health Link.
• To connect with key stakeholders in health in Bo on behalf of the health link.
• To visit the peripheral health centres and community health centers in Bo and try to understand the issues they face.
• To establish strong communication links between the Health Link and the District Council.
• To make contact with the women groups, particularly those involved in providing support to vulnerable groups and victims of Gender Based Violence.
• To connect with World Vision and discuss areas for possible collaborations in the future.
• To connect with stakeholders in the area of health research in Bo to indentify research gaps and to discuss future public health research collaborations.
• To meet with the youths in Bo District in order to build a friendship network, to understand their challenges and encourage partnership with the Health link.

Travel 7^th-22nd February, 2025

Road trip to London with the Education team.. Arrived Lungi Airport on the 8^th and paid 25USD security payment. I had the ECOWAS passport and did not pay the 80USD charge. Paid 20USD for Africell simcard and 15GB data. Paid 45USD for Sea Coach travel to Freetown. Paid 25USD and 45USD on the way back for security and Sea Coach. Other travelling in Bo was done using a Honda. Mr Saidu was very helpful in driving the team around Freetown and Bo as well.

Meetings in Freetown.

• World Vision: I met with Amos James, whom I had already established contact with prior to my visit. He introduced me to the Strategic Programs Director (Mannah Josiah) and the Resources Acquisition and Management Director (Amara). Our discussions were based on the present focus of the Health Link, the health projects of World Vision in Freetown and Bo and the possibility for future partnership/collaborations.
• World Health Organization(WHO): I made contact with a WHO Rep (Dr Nkwogu) in charge of Polio erradication Program in Sierra Leone. We discussed the Health Link Project and ideas for possible future collaborations, especially in the area of research.
• Informal Meeting with Doris Bah: Who through her expertise and office as the Director of Environmental Health advised on key strategies to employ during the stakeholders meeting. She also introduced me to her brother in-law, Abraham Bah, who is a public health supritendent with expertise in epidemiology and research methods of enquiry. He is a native of Bo and quite keen on supporting the Health Link.

Meetings in Bo

• Wusu at the OWL Centre.
• Visit to the PHCs and CHCs : Samuel Dauda and I met with the District Medical Officer (Dr Ngegbai),  prior to the visits and he gave us his approval. We discussed the purpose of our visits and he highlighted the current health issues in Bo. At the PHCs, we met the midwives and nurses. They told us the health issues affecting their towns and the healthcare facilities in general.  Government inputs, as well as support from private institutions,  charities and NGOs were also discussed. We also noted areas for possible facilitation by OWL Health such as health education, maternal and child health, environmental health and sanitation, and the laboratory services support.
• Stakeholders meeting: This was the highlight of the conversations for the Health Link.It was an interactive meeting chaired by Dr Wusu, all our invited guests and groups were well represented. Key issues discussed at the level of the PHCs and CHCs were further highlighted. A thorough health needs assessment was done and ideas on improving the current health situation were discussed.
• Meeting with the women groups: I met with women from the Civil Society from two departments; the domestic violence support group (led by Jarrai Barriz) and the disabled women support group. They receive support from UNDP and the government but are still faced with challenges in financing projects, accessing justice, and raising public awareness on issues like rape, social injustice and domestic violence against the women and young girls in Bo.
• Meeting with Prof Rasheed Asamanu, an important figure at the Public Health Department at the Njala University Campus: Dr Wusu, Samuel and I met with him in his office. We explored the gaps in public health research in Bo, explored possible research areas (the new malaria vaccine) as well as the potential for a future research collaboration with Warwick University.  Youth meeting: I made contact with Bo youths with the help of Samuel Dauda. They told me about the common issues faced by the youths in Bo such as rape, drug abuse and misuse, unemployment and high prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases. Some of the youths were motivated to join the Bo health link team as members.

Other activities:

• Health workshop: I conducted a health workshop on adult and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation for the midwives and nurses from the PHCs and CHCs. It was held at the OWL Centre. The aim was to boost the motivation and confidence of the healthcare workers. The turnout and level of participation was impressive despite not being an initial part of my itinerary.
• Sightseeing and relaxation at the beach with Liz and team.