Since 2007, the Welbodi Partnership has been working with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and international partners to support the Ola During Children’s Hospital (ODCH) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Through local partnership, Welbodi makes strategic and sustainable investments in this government hospital to reduce excess child mortality. Over the last three years we have developed facilities at the hospital to enable medical staff to offer the highest quality of care. Often this has come in the form of basic amenities: for example we have secured a back-up generator and a reliable water supply, which are essential to maintain sanitary conditions in the hospital. We have also developed an outpatient and emergency room and trained all medical staff in triage.

The Welbodi Partnership relies on the support of volunteers to carry out its work and uses donated office space and vehicles in Freetown. As such, we have minimal running costs and constantly aim to reduce expenses. Having come to appreciate the limitations of government funding for hospitals in Sierra Leone, the Welbodi Partnership tries to make any funds raised on behalf of the Ola During Children’s Hospital go as far as possible. In doing so, the Welbodi Partnership aims to enable local partners rather than to perpetuate a culture of dependency. As well as upgrading facilities we also seek to improve the management of the hospital and the quality of care delivered by providing training and tuition to medical personnel.