With a population of just under 6.5 million in 2015, Sierra Leone ranks 107th in the world by population and 121st by total area. The official language of Sierra Leone is English. The currency is the Sierra Leonean leone.
Sierra Leone ranks 191st (last) in world health ranking per WHO. In 2014, the total expenditure on health per person was $224, which is 11.1% of the GDP. Males have a life expectancy at birth of 49 years, and females can expect to live 51 years. There are .04 physicians per 1,000 people in Sierra Leone as compared with 2.56 physicians per 1,000 people in the United States.
Sierra Leone has about 80 hospitals, both public and private. Thirteen health districts provide primary care, delivered at three levels based on population size: maternal and child health posts at village level (less than 5,000), community health posts at small town level (5,000-10,000), and community health centers at chiefdom level (10,000-20,000). Secondary care is available at district hospitals. Tertiary care is provided at regional and national hospitals. However, for rural communities, physical distance to these facilities is a major obstacle.
International charities like the Red Cross and foreign governments opened temporary hospitals to help with the Ebola outbreak and damage done by the 10-year civil war; many of these are still in operation. In addition, traditional healers, especially birth attendants, provide a significant amount of health care at the community level.
Private facilities are overseen by individual owners and/or board of directors, and are mainly in urban areas. These facilities offer mostly curative care for inpatients and outpatients on a fee-for-service basis, which usually the poor cannot afford.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation, along with the National Social Security and Insurance Trust and the International Labour Organization, have been working toward a national health insurance plan. Meanwhile, health care in Sierra Leone is mostly funded from private, out-of-pocket payments, with each district setting their own fees. The public health sector in Sierra Leone is also largely dependent on external resources for funding.
Since April 2010, the Free Health Care Initiative has made healthcare entirely free for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under age 5.
Travel, or international, health insurance provides comprehensive medical coverage when traveling outside of one’s home country. Travel health insurance is different from travel insurance, as the latter may provide only emergency coverage but not full medical coverage.
Travelers should check with their health insurance provider, as they may already have an option of international health coverage. If they do not, they can purchase travel health insurance from their home country or the destination country.
This post was last modified on November 16, 2020 9:17 am
Regenerative medicine has made a large stride in recent years, with stem cell therapy becoming a hopeful area of focus.… Read More
Virtually every product presents its own share of marketing challenges. The idea of a product that “sells itself” is basically… Read More
The importance of maintaining good oral hygiene cannot be overstated. Regular brushing, flossing, and professional teeth cleaning are crucial for… Read More
Radiology plays a vital role in modern healthcare, providing invaluable diagnostic information that guides medical decision-making and treatment planning. Behind… Read More
In the journey of parenting a child with developmental differences, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), families explore various therapies… Read More
Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, represent some of the most significant health challenges worldwide. They are… Read More
The landscape of speech therapy has been remarkably evolved, driven by technological advancements. These innovations have expanded the reach of… Read More
Experiencing a red, flushed face after drinking alcohol is a common concern for many, particularly among individuals of East Asian… Read More
Water is an essential building block of health and life. Recent advances in water storage and transportation methods have increased… Read More
Pain is an unpleasant sensation that signals the body that something is amiss. While acute pain can be a normal… Read More