Road to Recovery takes you on an eye-opening journey that shows the fragility of the health system in Sierra Leone, and the inspiring solutions being pushed forward by communities across the country. Sierra Leone has one of the highest burdens of malaria in the world and 40% of hospital visits are attributable to the disease. Self-diagnosis and herbal medicine are commonplace and a combination of costly medical treatment and late hospital referral lead all too often to death.
Over two years, 70 community reporters have been trained to use their mobile phones to tell their own stories of life at the sharp end of the healthcare system. These films have been produced, filmed and edited by the community reporter network.
Road to Recovery seeks to put communities across Sierra Leone at the heart of the story. During the six short films, you will discover the challenges posed by poor road infrastructure, underpaid and disillusioned healthcare workers and sub-standard medical supply chains. But also the resilience and power of communities coming together to support each other. The films have been screened in seven locations across Sierra Leone during January and February 2021.
The films and screening tour have been made possible with the financial support of Comic Relief and GlaxoSmithKline to help strengthen health systems’ ability to fight malaria and improve people’s health.
All content is available to be used by NGOs and other organisations in their advocacy work to prevent malaria. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
The Road to Recovery would not exist without everyone who featured in the films: Sundu, Isatu, Esther, Aminata, Mariama, Nasiru, Musa, Chief Mankula, Abu Bakar, Dr. Faso and the staff at Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital and the communities of Koidu 1, York Island, Kamakwie and Kayako.
Special thanks go to Eastina, Maellet, Abdul and the On Our Radar Beyond the Bite reporting network in Sierra Leone for their dedication and passion in amplifying the voices of those living in their communities.
The mentoring team: Med, Dauda, Bankolay, Amjata, Elizabeth, Patrick, Emmanuel, Mariama and Sixties
Community reporters: Saidu Kamara, Santigie Lamin Bangura, Mariama A. Kamara, Amidu Koroma, James Sesay, Alusine Kargbo, Moses S. Sesay, Daniel A. Koroma, Martha K. Timbo, Isha Sillah Kanu, Mohamed P. Kamara, Mohamed Sesay, Saidu Munu, Mohamed Bangura, Emile Jengo, Sylvanus Bangura, Sahr W. Yongai, James A. Sowa, Mariatu Conteh, Amara Brima, Foday Yereh Samura, Daniel Kaitemoh, Alhaji O. Mansaray, Rachel Williams, Sukainatu Walters, Edward Tommy, Mohamed O. Bangura, Santigie Bangura, Mohamed Gbla, Fudia J. Sesay, Lamin K. Turay, Bundu Conteh, Ibrahim Jalloh, Hassan B. Sesay, Abibatu Kamara, Hamidu Barrie, Tamba Moitenga, Tamba Saidu, Brima Sandy, Haja Mariama Bangura, Salliey Jalloh, Bockarie Lahai, Kadiatu Bangura, Alpha Osman, Ibrahim Foday Bah, Christiana Bangali, Vandy Samai Lamin, Sahr James Kortue, Karta Coker, Joseph Lansana, Michael Jabba, Shiek Sallieu Serry, Ramatu Turay, Adama T. Barrie, Henry Sankoh, Amidu Conteh, Mariama Koroma, John Sankoh, David Fornah, Brima S. Conteh, Isatu Kanu, Hassan B. Kamara, Haja M. Turay
We would also like to thank our partners: Sensi Hub, BBC Media Action, Health Poverty Action, Concern Worldwide, Speak Up Africa and Restless Development Junior Doctors Association of Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Medical Women's Association, National Malaria Control Program and the Malaria Media Coalition. Special thanks go to: Mary Morgan, Kevin Lamdo, Emeric Roy-Coker, Salamatu Conteh, Sarah Cundy, Charlotte Woellwarth, Andrew Tholley, Maxson Kosia, Ibrahim Turay, Lawrence Mottram, Aminata Kane, James Wallen, Morris Marah, Alice Kostrzewa, Sister Wani, Annie Hoban, Francesca D’Emidio and Joanna Knight.