Sierra Leone: Free Health Care To Mother And Child

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Apr. 27, 2010
Sierra Leone: Free Health Care To Mother And Child
Sierra Leone Offers Free Health Care To Mothers And Children To Offset High Mortality Rates

(AP) FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) - Sierra Leone's president says his government will provide free health care to mothers and children in the West African nation which suffers from high rates of maternal and child mortality.

President Ernest Bai Koroma says as part of the program, formally launched Tuesday, free medical treatment will be given to pregnant and breast-feeding women and children under five. He says the government will distribute $10 million in medicines. UNICEF says the campaign will cover more than 1 million children and 250,000 pregnant women and new mothers. UNICEF says it will distribute $6 million in medicines.

Sierra Leone's rates of maternal and child mortality are among the highest in the world. The impoverished country is still struggling to recover from a bloody civil war between 1991 and 2002.



Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/27/ap/africa/main6436769.shtml

[BonnieJW]

1. So now,

Sierra Leone has better access to health care than we do. I'm so proud!

[Rebubula]

2. False equivalent

They still have an entire generation of young men and women suffering from the horrors of war (1000s with hacked off arms\feet etc); insane poverty; one of the highest rates of mother\child mortality and armed gangs roaming the countryside.

[FLPanhandle]

3. A government announcement that UNICEF is distributing the millions in medicines?

I guess that's one way to declare a "win" for your administration.