Look Back at 2008 – Mercy Hospital

Mercy Hospital in its second year continued to establish itself as one of the premiere medical facilities in Sierra Leone. It sees between 800 to 1,000 patients each month with over 11,000 outpatient visits this past year.

2008 was a year of vibrant growth for Helping Children Worldwide (HCW). Each of the programs HCW funds: the Child Rescue Centre (CRC), Mercy Hospital, and Connections for Hope overcame challenges and produced tangible success as they continued to serve vulnerable children and families across the globe.

The hospital is the only facility in the region to have a diagnostic lab. Additionally the hospital includes a fully stocked pharmacy, 25 beds, and a highly trained staff led by a licensed physician and a state registered nurse midwife.

Programs provided at the hospital include fully funded government supported voluntary HIV testing, counseling and case management; maternity care with professionally attended deliveries and comprehensive prenatal care; malaria prevention and treatment program with bed nets; medication and education; therapeutic feeding center to treat and prevent malnutrition; as well as annual medical education programs for community health professionals.

Mercy Hospital provides care regardless of ability to pay. In 2008 65% of its patients received care who otherwise would not have because of an inability to pay. The most vulnerable women and children in Bo are now receiving prevention and treatment supplies to target malaria. Mercy Hospital also treats the children at the CRC – providing vaccines, urgent,and follow up care.

Success is especially notable in the way Mercy Hospital is combating birth-related mortality. It has dropped its infant mortality rate by 80% from the national average of 1 in 8 (the highest in the world). This year Mercy Hospital helped safely deliver 50 high risk babies who would have otherwise died due to lack of medical care.