The state of healthcare access in Freetown’s informal settlements
Future Health Systems
Unequal access to healthcare exacerbates poor health due to their living conditions of those living in informal settlements across Freetown, Sierra Leone.
This issue brief provides an insight into the current state of healthcare provision in Freetown’s informal settlements. It provides the following priority actions:
- Revitalisation of Community Health Management Committees (CHMCs)
- Joint advocacy to the Ministry of Health by health workers and communities around drug stocks and equipment availability
- Health worker recruitment should consider gender balance to ensure that women and men are not shy to visit health facilities
- Ethics training services for workers and communities to maintain confidentiality for people seeking health care
- Enforcement of strict penalties against health workers who breach confidentiality of patients (e.g. including withdrawal of professional licenses)
- A recruitment drive for trained health workers and boosting motivation among those already working
- Inclusion of religious leaders in health sensitization activities through sermons.