Africare-Sierra Leone

Africare History in Sierra Leone

Africare is the oldest and largest African American-led development organization working exclusively in Africa. Africare was founded in 1970 in response to the severe drought in West Africa’s Sahel region. Since then, Africare has provided humanitarian and development assistance worth nearly US$1 billion to millions of Africans in more than 36 countries on the continent.

Africare’s first project in Sierra Leone in 1984 was designed at the invitation of the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), through a partnership planned jointly with the World Bank and UNICEF. Under the project, Africare provided technical, material and financial assistance in support of MOHS actions to strengthen management and distribution of essential drugs to communities being served by the Government’s primary health care programs operating in Bombali, Bo and Pujehun Districts. The MoHS provided policy guidance, technical oversight and counterpart funding for this pilot activity which, with the additional resources contributed by Africare, made it possible for the MoHS to refurbish a secured demonstration medical store in Freetown and linked that with upcountry medical stores in support of primary health care.  Under the program, the MoHS strengthened its pharmaceutical systems and skills in the areas of order, storage, distribution, record keeping, dispensing, monitoring and reporting. Africare’s support to Sierra Leone under this program was made possible by grants which it secured from member companies of the US Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association.

From 1985-1990, Africare supported several small initiatives including a community-based project with farmers in the Mabonkani community, Safroko Limba Chiefdom. In 1991, at the request of the U.S. Embassy, Africare designed and initiated a one-year medical and relief program for war-displaced populations in the Southern and Eastern Provinces. Africare’s programs in Sierra Leone are wide ranging from the delivery of services and commodities to renewing hope and building the lives of individuals and communities – many of which are recorded to be in some of the most disadvantaged and marginalized communities within the country.

 

Africare-Sierra Leone Today

Africare, as part of a consortium of four international NGOs including CRS, WVI and CARE, is implementing a Livelihood Expansion and Asset Development Program known as LEAD. The program is funded by USAID and builds on previous USAID funded development relief proposal/DRP. This multiyear assistance program ends in May 2010. LEAD primarily provides support in the areas of health, agriculture and food security, rehabilitation of farm to market roads and provision of community assets including grain stores, hand pumps and latrines.

 

Country Profile: Sierra Leone

REGION: West Africa
CAPITAL CITY: Freetown
POPULATION: 5,245,695
LAND AREA: 71,620 sq km (44,503 sq miles)

Sierra Leone endured a devastating civil war from 1991 to 2002. Tens of thousands of people died, and more than two million (a third of the population) were displaced – some within Sierra Leone, others as refugees to neighboring countries. Postwar recovery began with refugee resettlement and troop demobilization. Still underway is the work of rebuilding a devastated infrastructure and helping farmers, fishermen and others among the agrarian poor to get back on their feet. Diamonds represent an important source of foreign exchange. Nevertheless, Sierra Leone remains a poor country. The U.N. Development Program's Human Development Index for 2007/2008 ranks Sierra Leone as the least-developed country in the world. On an historical note, the capital city, Freetown, was founded in 1787 as a home for repatriated former slaves.
           

Country Stats Life expectancy: 41.8 years (USA: 77.9) Under-5 child mortality: 269/1,000 live births (USA: 7/1,000) HIV prevalence, ages 15-49: [1.3 - 2.4]% (USA: [0.4 - 1.0]%) Physicians per 100,000 people: 3 (USA: 256) People undernourished: 51% (USA: 0%) People with access to safe drinking water: 57% (USA: 100%) Adult literacy: 34.8% (USA: 99%) Gross National Income per Capita: $806 (USA: $41,890) Annual income, another way to look at it (GDP per capita): $216 (USA: $41,890) People living on less than $1 a day: 57% (USA: 0%) (HIV prevalence statistics, UNAIDS. All other statistics, 2007/2008 Human Development Report, UNDP)

 

Updated, June 2010)