Freetown
On Monday, the group decided to split up to cover more ground before Fieldwork ends. Hamsa and Chibugo met Dr. Cheng in Freetown and visited a few spots there, while Norman and Jake stayed in Makeni and visited a nursing school. During our interview with Ms. Gabba at the Sickle Cell Society, we dove into the organization’s impactful work, particularly their engaging workshops. These workshops serve as an educational platform for patients and their families, shedding light on the complexities of sickle cell disease. Our conversation with various patients also provided valuable insights, offering a firsthand perspective on the challenges they face and the support they require. Ms. Gabba shared a deeply personal narrative, recounting the loss of her daughter at the age of 23 due to sickle cell disease. This story emphasized the urgency of raising awareness and advancing research in the field. Additionally, at our visit, we also admired the striking posters that were placed on the walls for patients to see, some of them including puns to depict the important information about the disease and its impact on individuals and communities.
After the morning interview, we walked around Freetown looking for shops or places to sit down and get a bite to eat. We were looking for a while but then we finally found this very cute coffee shop that had amazing food. The interior looked very modern with many TVs, cool lights, and posters. It was very welcoming. Hamsa and Chibugo decided to have the omelet, and agreed that it was very delicious. Professor Cheng tried the soup and she said it was spicy and good!
After our brief lunch on Dundas St., we made our way to Hidden Voices, a magazine company located in Freetown that seeks to amplify the voices of women, children, and any other populations that are typically unheard from. The building was a bit hard to find, but once we made it in, we received a very warm greeting from the staff there. We spoke with the chief editor of the magazine, who we learned had just been newly appointed. Because we had spoken to the same magazine last year, we gave them an update on the things we’ve accomplished since our last meeting. They asked us a few questions about our current goals, and also told us a little bit about what they focus on in the magazine. They were so enthusiastic about our cause for sickle cell awareness, and encouraged us to find other avenues of media to contact, especially ones based in Makeni, in addition to their own outlet. After our enriching conversation, we asked one of the staff members to call a three wheel taxi cab, colloquially known as a keke, for us, and we rode it to Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH), where we met up with the members of the MOSL team who had come to Freetown.
The MOSL team had spent the latter half of the day visiting the National Midwifery School, which is located on the same compound as PCMH. When we met up with them, Professor Kramp introduced us to Dr. Joan Shepherd, the head of the midwifery school. Dr. Shepherd graciously toured us around the school’s facilities, and explained some of the school’s procedures. We asked her some questions about sickle cell disease and its role in the curriculum. While the disease is mentioned briefly in the antenatal curriculum, it isn’t covered in depth. Despite this, we were thrilled to learn that pregnant mothers that come to PCMH are routinely screened for SCD and SCT. Speaking to Dr. Shepherd was such a fun and informative experience, and we learned a lot about Freetown and Sierra Leone in general from her conversation.
University Of Makeni at Lunsar Campus
While Chibugo and Hamsa journeyed to Freetown, Jake and Norman traveled to University Of Makeni at Lunsar Campus. Intending to arrive around 9, we ended up arriving around 10 in the morning. When telling our drivers about Lunsar Nursing school, they did not believe it existed! We had to investigate for almost an hour to prove that it was real, but luckily, we were able to make the trip.
Upon arriving in Lunsar, We were introduced by the Provost to the staff and nursing students. Even in the midst of exam season, the students generously welcomed them into their class, where Jake and Norman showcased their projects. Later, they met with the Provost and some staff members to discuss their summer project goals. After this, Jake and Norman went to an office where they interviewed a public health educator, a midwifery educator, and student nurses.
Then, on the way home, we experienced the hardest downpour yet in Sierra Leone. We could barely see out of the front windshield. But, fret not! Ibrihim, our driver for the day, remained incredibly calm and he safely navigated the car all the way back to WHI.