At Holy Spirit Catholic Hospital this morning, we had the privilege of conducting interviews with two nursing students and a patient. The nursing students shared their unique journeys through nursing school, highlighting the immersive learning experiences from practical clinicals at Holy Spirit. Our discussions revolved around fundamental topics such as breastfeeding techniques and the significance of maintaining hygiene. The students emphasized the multifaceted approach to ensuring a healthy pregnancy, shedding light on the essential role of prenatal clinic visits in safeguarding the well-being of both the mother and the child. We also had the privilege to share our films with healthcare workers and patients at the hospital. It was great to hear from different perspectives on our work.
One patient we spoke with is currently in her ninth month of pregnancy, embarking on her fourth pregnancy journey. She shared her experiences with the care she receives at Holy Spirit and her enthusiastic anticipation of welcoming her child into the world. Having faced complications in previous pregnancies, she described how the support and care she receives at Holy Spirit promote the health of herself and her child. She emphasized the importance of support, including the vital role her husband plays in offering unwavering support throughout her pregnancy, accentuating how these factors influence her well-being as an expectant mother.
After wrapping up at Holy Spirit for the day, we headed over to Magbenteh Community Hospital to pursue a new partnership. Magbenteh Community Hospital is a part of the Swiss-Sierra Leone Development Foundation, which is an NGO founded to improve medical infrastructure in Sierra Leone. Our team had a meeting with the head hospital manager and other members of the hospital management staff, where we were able to pitch our project and show them our work. Unfortunately we were unable to gather any footage of Magbenteh, but we are excited to revisit the hospital and speak further.
They were overwhelmingly impressed and eager to begin working with us to gather footage at their facility. Although we were not able to film today, the staff took us on a tour around the hospital. The hospital was robust with facilities and multiple wards scattered on the grounds. We were fascinated by their advanced wards, operating rooms, laboratories, and water purification facility. An important factor of the hospital operations is that 100% of the services are free for children under five, pregnant women, and nursing women, in accordance with Sierra Leone policy. This is an integral aspect for our project, since our goal is to promote accessible resources for women. Before leaving, we arranged to come back later in the week so that we can begin filming content around the hospital. We foresee that this connection will lead to both valuable film content and advance our distribution methods through their network.
As we conclude our visit to the hospitals today, we’re excited about the connections we’ve made and the relationships we’re forming. These relationships are the heart of our project in Sierra Leone, as they allow us to create and share our films. We’re grateful for this privilege and the chance to return to Holy Spirit and Magbenteh this week.
In Sierra Leone, we’ve found not only important stories to tell but also people who are eager to collaborate and make a difference. As we look ahead to the coming days, we’re full of thanks and anticipation. These connections remind us of the power of working together toward a brighter future for mothers and children in Sierra Leone and beyond.
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