Annual Report 2009
Staff
The Society now has five members of staff, the Coordinator, two Clinic Nurses, one School link Officer and one Office Assistant. There is an urgent need for another Nurse to work at the Kissy Road facility and enhance effective and quality service delivery.Volunteers
A retired senior nurse of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation has been donating free time to the centre at 25 Thomas Street, participating in all centre activities.Patients
One hundred and twenty-six new patients were seen that brought the total of patients on register to 463, many of whom are seen at regular follow-up visits. For those who do not report for follow-up, the staff keeps in touch by phone or home visits.The number of referrals for specialist care continues upward, utilizing the facilities at the Connaught, the Ola During Hospitals, as well as at independent specialist clinicians. A number of patients required blood transfusion. Essential drugs
Essential drugs are being provided monthly for maintenance treatment and to the referred cases according to prescriptions from the referral points.There has been improved support for cases from less well-off families access specialized care whenever necessary.Schools activities
The school links officer continues on study leave and her job functions are being carried out by the acting school Link Officer who has continued to visit all the 17 schools working closely with the School Link teachers to form the school.Collaborations and Partnerships
•Ministry of Health and Sanitation
Ministry of Health and Sanitation•Ministry of Development and Social Welfare
Ministry of Development and Social Welfare•Ramsy Laboratories
Ramsy Laboratories•Sickle Cell Anemia Research Foundation (SCARF)
Sickle Cell Anemia Research Foundation (SCARF)•Sickle Cell Carers Awareness Network
Sickle Cell Carers Awareness Network Scientific Meetings
The Society participated in 2 meetings
•The Second Scientific Conference of the Health and Biomedical Organization of Sierra Leone, held in Freetown in March 2010.
The Second Scientific Conference of the Health and Biomedical Organization of Sierra Leone, held in Freetown in March 2010.•First Global Congress on Sickle Cell held in Accra, Ghana, July, 2010. The Coordinator was able to attend this meeting together with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
First Global Congress on Sickle Cell held in Accra, Ghana, July, 2010. The Coordinator was able to attend this meeting together with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.Constraints
There are still a few major constraints facing the Society and hindering programme implementation.
1.The main problem is still transport & mobility.
The main problem is still transport & mobility. We need transport for:
•Transferring patients to referral points•Follow-up in hospital •Home visits•Schools visits2.Poor availability and use of emergency blood transfusion
Poor availability and use of emergency blood transfusion******Report prepared by Amelia Gabba, Coordinator******
