How Healey International Relief Foundation’s local partnerships in Sierra Leone empower women, strengthen health

Since HIRF began working in Sierra Leone in 2001, local partnerships have been at the
core of our mission. We have sought to listen with our hearts so that our work is rooted
in true partnership. As Stephen Covey writes in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,
“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to
reply.” In a country that has faced civil war, epidemics, and natural disasters, listening to
understand is more than a principle; it is the foundation of building trust and lasting
partnerships. At HIRF, we want to understand and to collaborate on solutions together
with our local partners to create lasting change.

WOMEN LEADING CHANGE

One of our earliest initiatives was done in partnership with Caritas Freetown and was
the Fatima House of Light, located in the Kline Town area of Freetown. This vocational
training project offered women impacted by the civil war an opportunity to reclaim their
futures. There, they studied and became hairdressers, tailors, administrative staff, and
automobile mechanics. It was more than skills training; it was a chance for women to
reclaim their futures with dignity and confidence.

What began with Fatima House of Light more than 20 years ago continues today
through programs that support female farmers, improve women’s health, and promote
women’s leadership in community development. Our collaboration with Uman Tok,
Every Woman Sierra Leone, and Berny’s Hope–three inspiring, women-led
organizations—is helping strengthen their ability to lead change in their communities.
Together, we’re building essential skills in financial management, business
development, compliance, monitoring and evaluation, safeguarding, and advocacy. With
funding from Comic Relief (UK), this project is set to make a lasting impact by
empowering local solutions to local challenges.

BUILDING STRONGER HEALTH SYSTEMS TOGETHER

HIRF’s commitment to strengthening healthcare in Sierra Leone began with a
partnership in Newton—a community that became a refuge for thousands displaced
during the civil war. In response to urgent needs, HIRF established the St. Stephen’s
Amputee Clinic, offering essential medical care and vocational training to help
amputees rebuild their lives and support their families.
As Newton grew, the need for expanded health services became increasingly clear.
Through a series of listening sessions with community members, HIRF learned that
access to maternal care and broader clinical support was a priority. Guided by these
community voices and in collaboration with Caritas Freetown, HIRF responded by
constructing and supporting the Monsignor Daniel Sullivan Clinic, which opened its doors in 2015. Today, the clinic is a cornerstone of health services in Newton, serving a
catchment area of over 10,000 people. In 2024 alone, it recorded nearly 7,000
outpatient visits and 237 safe deliveries, a testament to the power of local partnerships
and community-led solutions.

Today, these early efforts have expanded into support for over 30 facilities across Sierra
Leone. Through our gift-in-kind program, we collaborate closely with each facility to
identify the specific medicines and supplies most needed by their communities. A
consistent priority has been nutritional support for pregnant women and young children.
To address this need, HIRF partnered with Vitamin Angels to receive an annual supply
of prenatal vitamins, Vitamin A, and albendazole. Each year, more than 25,500
pregnant women receive prenatal vitamins, 54,500 children under five are treated with
albendazole, and 95,000 doses of Vitamin A are distributed through our supported
facilities. Adama, who received prenatal multivitamins shared, “After taking the
multivitamin I felt healthier and was able to eat well and maintain good health
throughout my pregnancy.”

HIRF’s expansion into capacity building began when our in-country Health
Administrator, Sister Josephine Amara, emphasized that lasting improvements in health
systems depend on well-trained local staff and that there were gaps that needed to be
filled. Quality improvement, rational use of medicines, and data training were among the
early training that we supported through our partnership with Caritas Freetown and the
Christian Health Association of Sierra Leone.

Now we are proud to be part of a nationwide collaboration with Helping Children
Worldwide and other like-minded NGOs to support maternal and newborn health
training in key districts with high maternal and newborn mortality rates. In January 2024,
the first Maternal and Newborn Health Conference was held in Bo, where over 90
midwives and healthcare professionals received essential training to improve their
knowledge and skills in handling lifesaving procedures. One participant, Juliana,
remarked, “This training not only helped improve our capacity but is going to help
change our attitude to our pregnant women.” A second conference followed in Kenema
in 2025, reaching an additional 50 nurses and midwives, along with refresher sessions
for 25 participants from both districts.

In 2026, a third conference is planned for Tonkolili District, where another 50 healthcare
workers will be trained—furthering the mission to build resilient, stakeholder-informed
health systems. From Bo in 2024, to Kenema in 2025, and now Tonkolili in 2026, these
conferences are building a cadre of skilled midwives and nurses across Sierra Leone.

RESPONDING TO CRISIS, FOSTERING UNITY

Sierra Leone has endured a series of devastating crises, including catastrophic
mudslides, relentless seasonal flooding, and the Ebola pandemic that placed immense
strain on its systems and deeply impacted communities. During the Ebola outbreak,
HIRF provided food and medical supplies, sanitation items, and support for community engagement and training. From that effort emerged a partnership with the Buddhist Tzu
Chi Foundation which, together with Caritas Freetown and the Bo-based Lanyi
Foundation, led to the creation of Partnering to Serve Humanity.

Through Partnering to Serve Humanity, we respond swiftly to emergencies such as
natural disasters and disease outbreaks, delivering immediate relief in the form of food,
shelter, and medical supplies, while mobilizing response teams to stand with
communities in their most vulnerable moments. Beyond emergency response, the
partnership also fosters long-term healing and solidarity. Together, we support Ebola
survivors through annual rice distributions and a unique interfaith gathering each
December. This event reflects Sierra Leone’s remarkable tradition of religious tolerance,
bringing together faith leaders who speak on the power of unity and collaboration for the
common good. Each year, more than 3,000 vulnerable people receive rice through this
initiative, a tangible expression of solidarity and shared commitment.

At HIRF, we believe lasting change begins with listening—to communities, to local
leaders, and to the needs voiced on the ground. As Josephine Garnem, HIRF Executive
Director, notes, “For over two decades, listening has guided HIRF’s work in Sierra
Leone. As we look ahead, we remain committed to walking alongside
communities—empowering women, strengthening health systems, and fostering
unity—because lasting change is only possible when we build it together.”