I'm working in a hospital in Sierra Leone to train the nurses, its a sustainable project being funded by the RCPCH and WHO so its a legit programme. The problem is, well Sierra Leone has many problems but the problem in the hospital is that theres no money. For reasons way above understanding there are problems with the supply chain of 'essential medications' as laid out by WHO. We regularly have none of the first line antibiotics to give to sick children, we have no adrenaline for our resuscitations, we have no NG tubes. We send parents out to the pharmacy outside the hospital to buy these things which should be provided for free for under 5 year olds but the hospital just doesn't have them.
On top of that the hospital has no money, For the past 2 weeks there have been no meals provided by the hospital, these were nothing amazing just basic rice and green stew but it meant the children and their mothers ate at least 1 decent meal a day. For breastfeeding mothers this is so important, today 2 mothers had to take their babies home who i wanted to keep on IV antibiotics but because they had no food, mums milk was drying up and the babies were losing weight.
If a child needs a transfer as its something too serious for our little hospital to deal with they have to catch the public shared taxis as there is no ambulance. Well theres an ambulance but theres no fuel. The cost of this transfer often puts parents off going to seek further medical help that their child desperately needs. I've had to send a child with a trauma on a bus to have an X ray and possible surgery. They died on the way.
What i'm raising money for is the small amounts I pay every day to try and make things a little easier for the families, a pound here for some pap (baby food), £3 there for a bus fare to a bigger hospital, a couple of quid for some medication. I want to help more, i never give a large amount but just a few £'s makes a massive difference to the families that truly can't afford it.