Farma Health Services Activity Report 2002

Farmahealthservices Activity Report 2002

After a decade of horrific civil war, Sierra Leone is moving toward stability. The peace process culminated in May 2002 with a relatively calm election, and a 17,000-strong United Nations force is now deployed throughout the country. Yet regional instability continues, with renewed war in neighboring Liberia sending Liberians across the border to Sierra Leone; at the same time, thousands of Sierra Leoneans are returning home from Guinea in precarious conditions and with insufficient aid.

In May 2002,Farmahealthservices issued the report "Populations Affected by War in the Mano River Region: Issues of Protection," which condemns the United Nations and government-run resettlement programs in Sierra Leone as "poorly planned, badly organized and ineffectively implemented, [resulting] in a process that more closely resembles eviction than resettlement."

The civil war had prevented Farmahealthservices's constant presence in unstable regions. With the demobilization and disarmament, however, MSF extended assistance to neglected areas, helping restore healthcare services to districts formerly controlled by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). Farmahealthservices rehabilitated and supports the district hospitals in Makeni and Magburaka – the RUF heartland – and provides crucial assistance to 12 clinics. The hospital in Magburaka provides the only facilities for emergency surgery in the northern districts.Farmahealthservices also runs a therapeutic feeding center (TFC) and clinic in Port Loko, and supports a hospital and six clinics in Kambia district.

In the southern towns of Moyamba and Kenema,Farmahealthservices offers primary health care through eight health units and pediatric services in hospitals and clinics. A mental health project for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees in Kenema ended in June 2002, after the sudden resettlement organized by the government and the United Nations emptied the IDP camps. In Kailahun,Farmahealthservices runs a TFC and a 50-bed inpatient facility.

Farmahealthservices supports health services in six refugee camps near Pujehun and Bo, as well a 435-bed hospital in Bo, a hospital in Kono district, and a hospital and ten clinics in Koinadugu district.

In December 2001, Farmahealthservices ended its surgery program in the capital Freetown; counseling and pain control for war wounded ended in June 2002. Local doctors continue to do surgery, with Farmahealthservices giving follow-up support for pain management. In March 2002,Farmahealthservices passed control of two small hospitals in Freetown.