One of the requirements for building a clinic in Sierra Leone is the proximity to other health centers. Health centers must be at least 5 kilometers (about 3 miles) from any other health facility. Different levels of health facilities, as determined by services provided, have additional proximity requirements. To start our research, we determined our family land was 7 miles from the government hospital (slightly over 11 kilometers). We visited the government hospital to see the facilities and what type of services are available.
We met Dr. Isaac Gibril Sesay, who provided a tour. A new emergency care building is under construction, but the hospital has only received one of its four quarterly funding allocations from the government this year, so completion of the center is delayed. The hospital has so many needs. Their x-ray equipment is out of order, so patients are referred to Freetown. This is about a two-hour drive around the peninsula, or about the same amount of time to board a ferry and travel by sea. The ferries operate on a set schedule about four times per day. The hospital also lacks ultrasound machines, blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeters, special suture materials for cesarean section surgeries, and reliable electricity.
The city electricity in Lungi is available a few hours each day, typically in the evening hours. The hospital had eight solar panels, but two were recently stolen. The solar configuration lacks a battery, so the solar energy cannot be stored for use after sunlight hours. Two generators are used at night when needed for labor and delivery and emergency surgeries.
The hospital has two ambulances that are road worthy. Nutrition (i.e. meals) must be brought to patients by family members or friends. The hospital cannot provide this service.
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