First Aid Trauma Posts (FATP)

The First Aid Posts in Lokomasama and Waterloo

In order to increase access to surgical-trauma services in the country and contribute to the reconstruction of the national health system brought to its knees by the Ebola epidemic, we activated two First Aid Posts between November 2015 and February 2016: one in Lokomasama, Port Loko district and the other in Waterloo, in the Western Area Rural District. The First Aid Posts were closed in 2017 and 2020, respectively.

Continuity of assistance in the country

During the period of activity, EMERGENCY staff employed in both Centres guaranteed Accident & Emergency services 24 hours a day. Thanks to our ambulances, we were able to transfer urgent cases to our Surgical Centre in Goderich, to receive the necessary surgical assistance.

We received over 40 surgical patients every month in Waterloo. In Lokomasama, in addition to offering assistance to trauma and surgical patients, we began primary medicine activities in response to the growing demands of the local population.

Health promotion activities in the villages

Our health promoters also provided information and classes for the local the population about basic hygiene practices, the prevention of disease transmission, and the importance of timely access to healthcare facilities in case of need.

Capacity-building for local healthcare workers

Thanks to this intervention, we strengthened the capacity of local health workers to respond to emergencies – particularly trauma – in areas of thew country where healthcare infrastructure was practically non-existent.

Even after the conclusion of activities at the Lokomasama First Aid Post (September 2017) and Waterloo (June 2020), our health efforts in the country continue to focus on surgical and trauma activity and the transfer of patients with cardiac diseases to our Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery, thanks to the Regional Programme, active in over 28 countries.

Our intervention in the country

We have been present in Sierra Leone since 2001 with a Surgical Centre, which has become the reference point for surgery and trauma care across the country. In the same hospital complex, a Paediatric Centre dedicated to care for children under the age of 14 was also operational until February 2020.