Medical Problems in Kono District Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone
The civil war that ended in 2002 has left a dreadful legacy. Sierra Leone is officially the worst place in the world for a child to be born. One in four children die before their fifth birthday. One in three children under five are moderately or severely underweight. More women die in childbirth than in any other country. And life expectancy is just 42.
285,000 children die in Africa every year simply because they can’t afford to pay to see a doctor or a nurse. Cerebal malaria left Morie with brain damage. Desperate to find a cure, his parents spent all their savings and borrowed money to pay for his hospital fees. Save the Children’s research shows that the lives of 285,000 children under 5 could be saved each year by abolishing healthcare fees. Children, such as Lahai who is severely malnourished would then be able to be treated. His family can’t afford to take him to hospital. Hospitals that provide free healthcare, like this NGO run one, are always full and provide a stark contrast to the government hospitals that are often empty. Save the Children is asking world leaders to support countries in Africa to make healthcare free.