Yesterday, our group met with Joseph Sesay, who organized a meeting for us at Lunsar Nursing School. We had never been to Lunsar Nursing School before; all we knew was that it was about an hour away. The school was very lively, with many students there to present their case study defenses that day. We asked the nursing students general questions about their perceptions of sickle cell disease. Most of them were quite knowledgeable and shared that awareness of the disease has increased over the years, so far fewer people believe it is caused by witchcraft compared to the past.
At Lunsar Nursing School, we met Richard, the school’s administrator and advisor. He showed us around the campus as we asked questions about their platform, curriculum, and how students are learning about sickle cell disease. After our visit, Richard took us to St. Paul of John Hospital. It was even Dr. Cheng’s first time visiting the hospital. There, we discovered that they have a dedicated sickle cell department—something very rare in Sierra Leone.
We met Nurse Francess, Richard’s sister, who graduated from Lunsar and now works at the hospital. She was very knowledgeable about the disease and familiar with advocacy groups such as SHAFS, SCANN, and other sickle cell societies in Sierra Leone. Francess explained that her department is funded by Dr. Fritjof, a German nurse. We spoke to him briefly over FaceTime after Francess called to ask for his contact information. Dr. Fritjof introduced a rapid flow test so that every newborn at the hospital can be screened for sickle cell disease. He also created flipbooks for parents and ensures that all hospital costs for sickle cell patients aged 0 to 14 are covered. In addition, he funds their medication until they turn 14.
We might not always see them, but doctors like Dr. Fritjof, nurses like Francess, and advocacy leaders such as Abdulai and Amelia Gabba are true guardian angels for sickle cell patients, helping them live healthier and longer lives. Meeting these people on our trip was deeply inspiring and gave us a greater appreciation for the incredible work they do for their communities.
