Travel to Sierra Leone and God's House Clinic
January 28 - February 16 2007
Summary of Mission
(Aliases are used for workers not directly affiliated with GHI for the sake of privacy)
OVERVIEW
During the weeks of January 29 to February 16 2007, God’s House International (GHI) embarked on a countrywide
HIV/AIDS education and outreach in Sierra Leone. The initial week was spent acquiring materials and visiting local
organizations to assess the state of HIV/AIDS within the country. I, Ms. Yvonne Washington-Turay,
President/Founder of GHI, spoke with several individuals at local area organizations. While in Makeni, Bombali
West Region I visited the Red Cross to inquire on where to find condoms in the country. I was told that condoms
were available for purchase only at their facility. The Nurse at the Red Cross, Ms. Marie was happy to sell me the
condoms at Le200 for a box of three, and so I purchased 10 boxes of the condoms to assist with GHI outreach
activities. Female condoms were not available at the Red Cross nor had any of the workers seen a female
condom. When asked if they would like to see a demonstration of how to use the condom, the staff replied yes,
and was given a mini in-service on the same along with a demonstration of its usage. I was told that these
condoms may be available in the City of Freetown, as they were not available in the Makeni area.
Our next visit was to the National AIDS Secretariat. Here we spoke with Alice, the Secretary, and Martha, who was
responsible for documentation. I relayed my story about the unavailability of condoms on the local market as well
as lack of access to the female condom. Here, I was told that the condoms are available for free but few if any
people come to get them. When asked if there was any outreach into the streets and brothels, the two ladies
answered "No". When asked if there are any agencies doing Prevention Outreach in Freetown, they replied that
there were several, but they were not sure if condom demonstrations were included. When asked where the
female condom could be found, I was told at the Family Planning Clinics which sell them for Le2000.
PROBLEM
Africa bares 64% of the HIV/AIDS burden in the world. According to UNAIDS statistics, young women between the
ages of 15 and 24 are 57% of the HIV population on the continent. The next at risk population are young children
who are born with the virus as a result of infection from their mothers. As of 2002, the incidence in Sierra Leone
was approximately 1% of 5 million which is about 500,000 people. Our outreach focused on the youth and other at
risk populations. We conducted several in-services at high schools in Kalangba, and Rykupr. We also spoke with
youth on the roadside at a Waterloo market place, a street corner in Freetown as well as at a brothel. With each in-
service we found the knowledge of HIV/AIDS incidence to be very limited. The young people seemed to be familiar
with STD’s and HIV, but lacked information relevant to proper wear and use of condoms, prevention of HIV and
incidence of the same. It was certain, to me, that there is still much we can do to assist our neighbors on the
continent, in particular, Sierra Leone, in fine tuning their prevention methods.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Here are some a few recommendations:
1. Intensive, ongoing HIV/AIDS outreach :
a. Schools must have a built in HIV/AIDS curriculum
b. Sensitization and ongoing outreach in brothels
c. Screening of all Prostitutes with health cards
d. Ensure condoms are easily accessed and free
e. Conduct condom demonstrations
2. Oversight of HIV/AIDS programs
a. Outside observer
i. Manage Budget
1. Assesses Documentation
ii. Ensure compliance with Grants
iii. Delegates Authority to Nationals
iv. Provides frequent ongoing follow up
3. Female Mentoring Programs
a. Teach women life skills
b. Provide mentoring
c. Provide technical training
4. Youth/Peer outreach Educators
a. In Schools
b. Villages
c. Social Clubs
d. Church organizations
These are just a few ideas on how we can assist Sierra Leone in combating this pandemic within the country. It is
going to take consistent and persistent oversight and ongoing evaluation and follow up for these strategies to be
implemented. It is my belief that based on the enthusiasm of the populations exposed to these recent series of out
reaches; we can make a substantial impact on decreasing the incidences of HIV/AIDS in this country.
Yvonne Washington-Turay MSN,FNP,APRN-BC
President/Founder
God’s House International Inc.
A Special Thanks to the following students for their participation in the demonstrations:
Magbema School:
Yusef Kamara
Alimamy A. Turay
Fatmata Sesay
Ahmadiyah School:
Muhamad S. Kamara
Foday A. Kamara
Konomabera A. Kamera
Ibrahim Marrah
A Special Thanks to the following their assistance with the outreaches:
Mr. Joseph Kargbo
Mr. Kandeh Turay
January 28 - February 16 2007
Summary of Mission
(Aliases are used for workers not directly affiliated with GHI for the sake of privacy)
OVERVIEW
During the weeks of January 29 to February 16 2007, God’s House International (GHI) embarked on a countrywide
HIV/AIDS education and outreach in Sierra Leone. The initial week was spent acquiring materials and visiting local
organizations to assess the state of HIV/AIDS within the country. I, Ms. Yvonne Washington-Turay,
President/Founder of GHI, spoke with several individuals at local area organizations. While in Makeni, Bombali
West Region I visited the Red Cross to inquire on where to find condoms in the country. I was told that condoms
were available for purchase only at their facility. The Nurse at the Red Cross, Ms. Marie was happy to sell me the
condoms at Le200 for a box of three, and so I purchased 10 boxes of the condoms to assist with GHI outreach
activities. Female condoms were not available at the Red Cross nor had any of the workers seen a female
condom. When asked if they would like to see a demonstration of how to use the condom, the staff replied yes,
and was given a mini in-service on the same along with a demonstration of its usage. I was told that these
condoms may be available in the City of Freetown, as they were not available in the Makeni area.
Our next visit was to the National AIDS Secretariat. Here we spoke with Alice, the Secretary, and Martha, who was
responsible for documentation. I relayed my story about the unavailability of condoms on the local market as well
as lack of access to the female condom. Here, I was told that the condoms are available for free but few if any
people come to get them. When asked if there was any outreach into the streets and brothels, the two ladies
answered "No". When asked if there are any agencies doing Prevention Outreach in Freetown, they replied that
there were several, but they were not sure if condom demonstrations were included. When asked where the
female condom could be found, I was told at the Family Planning Clinics which sell them for Le2000.
PROBLEM
Africa bares 64% of the HIV/AIDS burden in the world. According to UNAIDS statistics, young women between the
ages of 15 and 24 are 57% of the HIV population on the continent. The next at risk population are young children
who are born with the virus as a result of infection from their mothers. As of 2002, the incidence in Sierra Leone
was approximately 1% of 5 million which is about 500,000 people. Our outreach focused on the youth and other at
risk populations. We conducted several in-services at high schools in Kalangba, and Rykupr. We also spoke with
youth on the roadside at a Waterloo market place, a street corner in Freetown as well as at a brothel. With each in-
service we found the knowledge of HIV/AIDS incidence to be very limited. The young people seemed to be familiar
with STD’s and HIV, but lacked information relevant to proper wear and use of condoms, prevention of HIV and
incidence of the same. It was certain, to me, that there is still much we can do to assist our neighbors on the
continent, in particular, Sierra Leone, in fine tuning their prevention methods.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Here are some a few recommendations:
1. Intensive, ongoing HIV/AIDS outreach :
a. Schools must have a built in HIV/AIDS curriculum
b. Sensitization and ongoing outreach in brothels
c. Screening of all Prostitutes with health cards
d. Ensure condoms are easily accessed and free
e. Conduct condom demonstrations
2. Oversight of HIV/AIDS programs
a. Outside observer
i. Manage Budget
1. Assesses Documentation
ii. Ensure compliance with Grants
iii. Delegates Authority to Nationals
iv. Provides frequent ongoing follow up
3. Female Mentoring Programs
a. Teach women life skills
b. Provide mentoring
c. Provide technical training
4. Youth/Peer outreach Educators
a. In Schools
b. Villages
c. Social Clubs
d. Church organizations
These are just a few ideas on how we can assist Sierra Leone in combating this pandemic within the country. It is
going to take consistent and persistent oversight and ongoing evaluation and follow up for these strategies to be
implemented. It is my belief that based on the enthusiasm of the populations exposed to these recent series of out
reaches; we can make a substantial impact on decreasing the incidences of HIV/AIDS in this country.
Yvonne Washington-Turay MSN,FNP,APRN-BC
President/Founder
God’s House International Inc.
A Special Thanks to the following students for their participation in the demonstrations:
Magbema School:
Yusef Kamara
Alimamy A. Turay
Fatmata Sesay
Ahmadiyah School:
Muhamad S. Kamara
Foday A. Kamara
Konomabera A. Kamera
Ibrahim Marrah
A Special Thanks to the following their assistance with the outreaches:
Mr. Joseph Kargbo
Mr. Kandeh Turay
| God's House International |
| God's House International |