By Desmond Tunde Coker
On Wednesday September 7th, 2022 Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC ) engaged two communities at the YMCA hall at fourth Street in Freetown to disseminate information on its findings for the past three years.
Sierra Leone Urban Research Center (SLURC), is a globally connected urban research centre which was created through a partnership between the Bartlett Development Planning Unit (University College London) which research seeking development within communities of self reliance.
Speaking during the engagement Mr. Abu Conteh, given background said that this research was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council base in the Uk. He said that the research started way back during Ebola period to see how community showing resilience after a major health suck by the Ebola and how community people can use their initiative to crate change to access to health care, access to sanitation and water.
Today we can say we are happy because from the different communities lots of improvements have been done in ensuring they themselves creat the impact need without supports from government or NGOs.
He went on to state that Research Study conducted in 2 informal settlements.To understand the health burdens of informal settlement residents and their strategies to overcome these health burdens. To support the health system’s response to health problems in informal settlements E.g. Epidemics and daily health problems.
Findings Local Understandings about Health Poor sanitation-repeated outbreaks of cholera & routine diarrheal diseases Poor waste management- mosquito breeding & high incidence of malaria ect. Waste burning/air pollution linked to cough and cold E.g people living near the Kolleh town dumpsite.
Let local Understanding About Health Conditions like Work-related exposures: Dust, emission from stone mining in Moyiba- cough and cold, Chronic health conditions E.g. stress, ulcers, hypertension, and stroke remain unexplained or treated.
Living with disease Precarity and isolation: loss of livelihoods or social networks causes psychological distress;
Inability to access care is also a source of stress Frequency of health problems: Experiences of frequent health problems E.g. Malaria, fever and pain cause residents to refer to them as “simple” or “normal” health problems.
He further stated that lessons for the future Informal settlement residents face multiple health burdens E.g. chronic health problems exist alongside common health problems. Recent outbreaks indicate that people with chronic health problems can face enhanced risk of infections Epidemic response must take a gendered & health systems approach to address during health emergencies. barriers to healthcare amongst other findings.
Speaking to two community members Daniel Bob Jones leaving in CKG, Community said today we can do for ourselves base on what’s we have learnt from SLURC. Phebean Sam also express similar sentiment to their communities.