A core part of HIRF's health strengthening work is making sure hospitals and clinics have the medicines and supplies they need to care for their patients. In recent weeks, HIRF delivered prenatal vitamins through our partnership with Vitamin Angels, along with epilepsy medicines from the ROW Foundation. Critical antibiotics from our partner International Health Partners (IHP) were also delivered to facilities.

In addition, rice and multigrain generously donated by the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation will be used at facilities to support the nutrition of women and children. Malnutrition remains a serious challenge in Sierra Leone, and nutrition supplies are always in demand. Watch the video and hear firsthand how facilities plan to use these donations to support this vulnerable population.

The second story in our Strengthening Care: Stories from Sierra Leone's Health Facilities series takes us to Loreto Health Services in Makeni. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny founded Loreto in 1956. The civil war destroyed it, and the Sisters rebuilt it. Today it serves more than 25,000 people, and some patients travel from across Sierra Leone and even from neighboring Guinea.

For more than a decade, HIRF has supplied Loreto with critical medicines and medical supplies. Through our partners, that support now covers everything from antenatal care for pregnant women to ongoing treatment for people living with epilepsy.

On a recent visit with our partner IHP who provided critical antibiotics to the facility, we met Sister Victoria, Sister Philomena and Isahi. Loreto gives free treatment to its most vulnerable patients, so donated medicines go a long way. "These medicines help reduce the burden on the health center because otherwise we have to purchase everything ourselves," Sister Victoria explained.

Read the second story in the series and meet the people behind Loreto and see how the clinic cares for its community.