Why Plan works in

is the one of the poorest countries in the world, over 75% of the population lives on less than £1 a day. There is a severe lack of healthcare services and existing clinics are often ill equipped and poorly staffed. Healthcare workers also lack early child care skills and there is a low level of awareness of childhood health and development issues among communities. Infant mortality is one of the highest in the world and one in five children will not reach their fifth birthday.

All children should have access to good healthcare facilities and it is crucial that mothers have access to healthcare, information and services to help them bring up healthy children.

How you can help

We need to raise funds to increase the access to quality healthcare services for 72,800 children and 21,400 women in the Kailahun district. This will involve building two brand new clinics, and equipping and renovating two existing clinics. Plus we will train another 210 healthcare workers, and develop the skills and knowledge of existing staff and communities in childcare.

The project aims to reduce mortality in women and children by training midwives in modern methods of delivery and childcare and training healthcare workers to recognise and effectively treat children with malaria, respiratory infections, diarrhoea and tuberculosis.

Plan staff will also help teachers to create lessons in which children understand the importance of good hygiene, encouraging children to devise campaigns and create drawings to highlight the value of these practices to their families. In this way, children can play an active part in changing attitudes towards health and hygiene for the better in their homes and the wider community.

Plan works closely with communities, governments and non-governmental organisations at a local and national level to make sure projects such as this work as effectively as possible. This is just one of many projects within Plan’s wider health programme. With your support, this project can make a difference to the lives of many children, families and communities in .