Sierra Leone has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. Of every thousand babies born in this West African country, 109 do not live to live to the age of five. And for every 100.000 deliveries, 796 women die. For comparison: in the Netherlands only 4 women die per 100.000 births.
Lion Heart Medical Center (LHMC) is a non-profit hospital located in the rural heart of Sierra Leone. There are no other hospitals in the area, which means that more than 150.000 residents depend on LHMC for life-saving care. Every year we admit around 3.000 patients and 600 women come to give birth.
Even in the vicinity of our hospital, a safe delivery is anything but self-evident. Many women give birth at home, far away from life-saving care for mother and child. Because the most remote clinic in our referral system is 46 kilometers away, only accessible via poor, bumpy dirt roads, it is not surprising that it is too difficult or too expensive for many women to get to the hospital on time. Especially when it comes to an emergency.
We want to do everything we can to optimize the care for pregnant women and newborn babies in and around our hospital. We want to go to distant villages ourselves to make ultrasounds and thus recognize high-risk pregnancies. We want to upgrade our ambulances so that we can provide good care even on the road in an emergency. We want to buy equipment for the hospital to better monitor the mother and baby during delivery. We also want to set up a separate room with incubators and a dedicated nurse 24/7 to better help the little ones who are having difficulties. Finally, we want to expand our training activities inside and outside the hospital. But none of this is possible without your help!
Every woman has the right to a safe birth and every baby has the right to a safe start. Support our fight to save as many babies and mothers as possible in the Sierra Leonean countryside!
Every little bit helps!
Every €20 means one jar of baby milk
For €42 we can go to a remote village to ultrasound pregnant women
For €120 we can pay a month's salary so that an extra nurse can focus on newborn care 24/7
We can buy an incubator for €1.000
Donations are welcome via the GoFundMe page or can be transferred directly to the bank account of the Lion Heart Foundation, please mention the crowdfunding campaign: Lion Heart Foundation Foundation, Triodos Bank, NL93TRIO0254840256