About Sierra Leone

The country endured and is recovering from more than a decade of brutal civil war. Approximately 50,000 people were killed and more than 100,000, including children, were deliberately mutilated. Rape was used as a weapon of war and became an everyday occurrence, resulting in the spread of AIDS as well as causing thousands of pregnancies, the childbirths for which resulted in fistulas.

The conflict destroyed health and educational infrastructure. The country is still considered a fragile state and faces the challenges of poverty, corruption, and economic mismanagement. Almost 60% of people in Sierra Leone survive on less than $1 a day.

The country’s recovery had been supported by the direct and everyday involvement of the UN and local UN Population Fund (UNFPA). But in December 2005, both parties pulled the majority of their financial aid, leaving full responsibility for security and healthcare funding with domestic forces.

That withdrawal has tremendously impacted the many clinics that had been funded and operated by those organizations—and has further compromised the availability of critical healthcare. Now more than ever, we need your support

The Situation for Women Is Dire

Pregnant women who live in the more remote parts of the country must travel several days to see a doctor—only to find when they arrive that the help they need is not available.

Sierra Leone has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world—2,000 maternal deaths per 100,000 births(2 infants per 100).

Sierra Leone has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world—more than 177 deaths per 1,000 births (compared to 6.6 deaths for every 1,000 births in the US).

Only 4% have access to contraception.

The life expectancy of a female born in Sierra Leone today is 44.4 years.

VVF and RVF are treatable, preventable conditions with which no woman should suffer, and are unnecessarily creating a great burden on the people of Sierra Leone. Our goal is to alleviate that burden by empowering women with better health and education. In the past two years AWASH has helped almost 400 women get their lives back.

 

100% of each donated dollar contributes directly toward patient care and/or hospital infrastructure.

Get involved - If you’re interested in donating money or supplies to AWASH, contact us and we can determine how we may be able to work together.

AWASH is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Contributions to AWASH are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
AWASH’s tax identification number is 27-0201161.

 
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