1 out of 4 babies in Sierra Leone never reach their 5th birthday

A well baby comes in for a checkup

Dr. Merilyn Palmer, a pediatrician at Kissy Clinic, has brought hope and health to young famillies in Sierra Leone.  In February 2011 the Well Baby Clinic opened its doors to women and children in the Freetown area.   One of the church's area of focus is on health issues related to poverty.   Sierria Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world so starting a clinic to provide education and medical care for babies through the age of five is already proving to make a difference. 
Dr. Palmer writes: 

A concerned mother who learned about the clinic brought in her month old infant who was born at 32 weeks (8 weeks premature), weighing 1.9 kg (or 4.18 pounds) for a time of first visit. She had a host of questions concerning her child's slow weight gain, and wide open soft spots. We have been monitoring the head circumference and its rate of growth and are reassured that the child is not developing hydrocephalus. So far he has caught up on his social and motor development and the mother is happy with his developmental progress."

Can you imagine having a premature baby at home?  The Well Baby Clinic is now available to this mom to answer questions, do the highly recommended practice of checking the baby as he/she matures, getting all the immunizations on time, and giving mom the peace of mind that her precious child will survive those statistically critical years.  Even if the lines are long the outcome is well worth the wait.   If you want some first hand stories about life in Sierra Leone, just ask the Stoner's, Doug McMillian, Tim Ridenour, Bob Coolman, Dr. Leland, and others, how their experiences have changed their view of living.  Thanks for your support of $640.66 in April's Mission offering for the Well Baby Clinic. The clinic operates on gifts such as ours and the small fee that is collected from each mother.    .