30 November 2 December 2007 UNICEF Freetown, December 2007

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1 Photo Journal Tour of Bonthe Island and its health facilities by UNICEF Representative, Geert Cappelaere,, and Team 30 November 2 December 2007 UNICEF Freetown, December 2007

2 Brief Data Land Area - 3,611.8 km² Population - 130,297 (2004) Chiefdoms - 12 No. of Primary Schools No. of Schools in good condition Literacy Rate % Total primary school enrolment - 40,728 Male - 21,238 Female - 19,490 Teachers Pupil/teacher ratio - 64:1 No. of PHUs - 38 IMR - 112/1000 U5MR - 188/1000

3 Brief Data No. of ITNs distributed - 2,000 Population without safe dinking water % Major source of water supply - River/Stream No. of boreholes No. of protected wells No of PHUs with WATSAN facilities - 24 No. of primary schools with WATSAN facilities 85

4 Bonthe Island was home to the first set of settlers. This Anglican Church was built in 1894.

5 The Island was Sierra Leone s s first administrative capital and the first municipality. A major seaport and headquarter of many business conglomerates such as the now defunct Paterson Zochonis, popularly known as PZ.

6 Its was once a major producer of piassava the plant used for the manufacture of brush fibre. However the use of piassava was abandoned due to the preference for the more sophisticated petroleum products, but also mainly due to poor marketing facilities

7 The city is now a shadow of its former self, with its major landmarks lying in ruins due to neglect by successive administrations. This building was the former Post Office standing close to the port.

8 Even though Bonthe District has rich deposits of Titanium Oxide (Rutile( Rutile) ) yet the District has not benefited from the largess. There are no good roads, hospitals or electricity, water supply system, emanating from poor lease agreements. The District suffers from one of Sierra Leone s s worst environmental degradation due to mining.

9 Fishing is now the main preoccupation of the people.

10 It is very difficult to get to Bonthe Island as it is on the mainland, Mattru.. The gateway to Bonthe is by the Jong River. It is festooned with mangrove swamps and sandbanks that can make navigation difficult.

11 Health Facilities The District referral hospital is located in the Bonthe Island. Its first Doctor was Milton A. Margai in Dr. Margai left the medical field in 1954 and became the first Prime Minister of Sierra Leone in 1961 The Hospital is now in need of major rehabilitation and equipment

12 The hospital s ambulance was vandalised during the ten-year conflict.

13 Motorcycle ambulances were introduced recently. But these have also been vandalised.

14 The hospital s s HF Radio is dysfunctional.

15 Most of the major drugs at the stores and dispensary are expiring.

16 The District Medical Officer, Dr. Samuel Keitell shows off a disused x-ray x machine to the UNICEF Rep Geert Cappelaere and the DFID Regional Senior Health Adviser, Joanna Reid.

17 The Cold Chain runs on cheap and cost effective solar energy. Very effective.

18 The 3rd round of the Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE) campaign launched by the Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF targeted 1,200,000 women of childbearing age (15 49 years)

19 During the MNTE campaign close to 800 children on the Jong River archipelagos received vitamin A supplementation to enhance the nutritional status of the children.

20 Worm infestation can be a serious problem due to the poor nutrition intake of the children. Deworming pills were giving to the children

21 The MNTE was supported by mobile teams on motorcycles, especially on the mainland

22 An EPI signboard. In order to boost immunisation coverage in the Islands, public information structures, such as billboards need to be redesigned.

23 Bonthe District has the country s s highest malnutrition rate, estimated at 30 per cent (Vulnerability Assessment Report 2007)

24 Locally produced salts are not iodised. This can results to goiter and low IQ of the children.

25 Population without access to safe drinking water in Bonthe Island is 67.5 per cent. Streams and Rivers account for 45 per cent of major sources of water. Old and dysfunctional gravity schemes such the picture can be found in major towns in Sierra Leone.

26 Teenage pregnancy is high in the island mainly due to problems of access and completion of secondary school by girls.

27 Even though HIV/AIDS prevalence is low in the Islands, yet condom promotion and sensitisation are conducted to make people aware of the disease.

28 The Mayor of Bonthe and his deputy held fruitful discussions with the Representative and his team on the health situation in the Islands. It was agreed that priority will be given to: 1. Providing an outboard ambulance to the island to reach the other communities further offshore. 2. Ensuring that items donated to the community are safeguarded by the local administration and DHMT.