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BO Children's Hospital Project, Sierra Leone

Dr Nuli Lemoh in Sierra Leone

Sydney University International House Alumni Association (SUIHAA) takes great pride in introducing you to the Bo Children’s Hospital Project.

Decades of political instability, corruption and civil war (1990-2000) has left Sierra Leone in a destitute state. This small but densely populated country offers very little or absolutely no health care to its rural communities.

Dr Nuli Lemoh, a former International House resident from Sierra Leone and now a respected Sydney Pediatrician, has carried a life long dream to build a Children’s Hospital in his poverty stricken and war torn homeland. Dr Lemoh has now set the wheels in motion to realise this dream.

The Rotary Club of Turramurra has commenced raising the funds to build and operate the hospital and SUIHAA has committed to raising the funds for the construction of the Outpatient’s Clinic.

By providing professional health care, diagnostic facilities, medication, and education on nutrition and disease prevention we hope to vastly improve the devastating health and mortality statics in the Bo region.

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The Harsh Facts

  • Population: 5.9 million
  • Life Expectancy: 34 years
  • 1 in 6 infants die at birth
  • 1 in 6 women die during childbirth
  • Infant Mortality (under 5): 282 per 1000 children
  • 93% of GNP goes to repayment of international debt
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Common Causes of Death

  • Under nutrition: 25% of under 5s
  • Diarrhea: 5% of under 5s
  • Malaria: up to 63% of deaths
  • Respiratory Diseases including Tuberculosis
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Lack of Maternal Health Care

  • 1 midwife for every 26,00 people
  • 1 surgeon for every 1 million people
  • Bo’s closest children’s hospital is 150 miles away on a very bad road
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Project Overview

  • Bo is the largest rural city and is centrally located
  • 3 acres of land have been purchased: 15 minutes drive to Bo town centre
  • Stage One: Outpatient’s Clinic with 20 beds initially to be increased to 60, diagnostic facilities and operating theatre
    Health education and research unit that will train nurses and paramedics, educate children and parents on nutrition and disease prevention, and research local health issues
  • Estimated initial cost: AUD$300,000
  • Balance (as at July 2009): AUD$49,512.30

Sydney University International House Alumni Association (SUIHAA) has former residents living in 111 countries across the globe.

We ask you to join in this global humanitarian project by fundraising with fellow Alumni in your community or by simply making a donation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2KXGXKAkiI to watch the video about the BO Children's Hospital Project.

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Contact the Bo Project

For more information about the Bo Project, please contact:
Gwen Ng
SUIHAA Bo Project Convener
email: Bo@suihaa.org.au
telephone: 0403 97 22 60

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