Our Team

Our Team:

Dr Sandra Lako

Senior Technical Advisor.

Sandra is a doctor from the Netherlands who previously spent 4 ½ years in Sierra Leone setting up and managing a pediatric outpatient clinic with an organisation called Mercy Ships. She returned to Sierra Leone in 2010 to volunteer with the Welbodi Partnership initially as medical coordinator and team leader. She has a medical degree from the University Medical Center, St Radboud in Nijmegen and a Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Our Team:

Alusine Kamara

Driver.

Alusine started driving for the Welbodi Partnership in 2011. Prior to this he was a driver for the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and Universal Radio. He also spent 10 years working as a garage mechanic for Mercedes Benz cars in Lumley, Freetown.

Our Team:

Dr. Tom Pearson

Project Manager and Team Leader.

Dr Tom Pearson is a UK trained General Practitioner with a Diploma in Tropical Medicine from Liverpool and a Masters in Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He has a particular interest in long term capacity building in human resources for health. He manages the Welbodi team, coordinating the Welbodi partnership activities including training, ward management, community links, infrastructural projects, monitoring and evaluating and long term learning goals.

Our Team:

Samuel Randall

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer.

Samuel is currently studying towards a Masters degree in Social Statistics at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, where he also completed a BSc in Biology. He has been working with Welbodi since October 2008 to improve the medical records department at the children’s hospital. He collects and analyses data on morbidity and mortality and patient demographics to better monitor the quality of care given at the hospital. He is also responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of all projects approved by the Sierra Leone Institute for Child Health (SLICH) and supported by the Welbodi Partnership.

Our Team:

Sarata Nyamacoro Silla.

Technical Advisor

Our Team:

Suzanne Thomas

Technical Advisor.

Suzanne is a hospital pharmacist from the UK, who has been working with the University of Manchester and Central Manchester University Hospitals to provide training for pharmacists, nurses and doctors at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Since obtaining her Pharmacy degree from the University of Nottingham she has gained postgraduate qualifications in clinical pharmacy and clinical education. She is currently working on developing specialist paediatric training for doctors and supporting improvements in medicines usage at Ola During Children’s Hospital.

Our Team:

Sebastian Wilson

Administrator.

Sebastian joined us from Safe Haven Children's Trust, and will be supporting Welbodi from London two days a week. In recent years, he helped establish Mlop Children's Home, a specialist ECD centre working with children and families in Cambodia. He currently also works for Whizz-Kidz, sits on the Board of Advisors for Mlop and is studying BSc Social Science at Birkbeck. Before moving into the charity sector, Seb was a restaurant manager in London and Sommelier in New York.

Our Partners at ODCH:

Dr David Baion.

Medical Superintendent of ODCH and SLICH board member

Dr Baion started his academic career studying for a BSc (Hons) in Zoology at Fourah Bay College, Freetown. He moved to China in 1983 where he spent a year learning Mandarin before obtaining his medical degree, a diploma in Chinese medicine and then a Masters degree in Paediatrics. He returned to Sierra Leone in 2002 and became a specialist registrar at Ola During Children’s Hospital in 2003. He has been the Medical Superintendant for this hospital since 2009 and his specialist interest is the management of Burkitt’s lymphoma.

Our Team:

Dr Ishmael Turay

Liaison Officer.

Dr. Turay is a medical officer at the children's hospital, and acts as the liaison between Welbodi and the other medical staff at the hospital. He studied medicine at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences at the University of Sierra Leone. He passed his primary examination with the West African College of Paediatrics in October 2010 and will therefore be part of the first class of residents in paediatrics from the Ola During Children’s Hospital.

Our Partners at ODCH:

Matron Joya Jones

Matron at ODCH.

Matron Jones trained at the National School of Nursing in Freetown and started her career on the paediatric ward at Connaught Hospital. She then worked at Ola During for 14 years before gaining experience at a senior level in Kailahun Province District Hospital. She returned to Ola During in 2011 to take up her current role as Matron.

Our Partners at ODCH:

Professor Tamra Abiodun.

Director of Clinical Teaching, Ola During Children’s Hospital

Professor Abiodun is a highly experienced paediatric consultant and associate professor from Nigeria. She is a fellow of the West African College of Physicians, Paediatric Faculty, a technical advisor to the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and UNFPA, and a sub-regional trainer on the integrated management of newborn and childhood disease. Professor Abiodun directs postgraduate training for the medical doctors at the children’s hospital.

Our Partners at SLICH:

Dr David Baion

Medical Superintendent of ODCH and SLICH board member.

Dr Baion started his academic career studying for a BSc (Hons) in Zoology at Fourah Bay College, Freetown. He moved to China in 1983 where he spent a year learning Mandarin before obtaining his medical degree, a diploma in Chinese medicine and then a Master’s degree in Paediatrics. He returned to Sierra Leone in 2002 and became a specialist registrar at Ola During Children’s Hospital in 2003. He has been the Medical Superintendent for this hospital since 2009 and his specialist interest is the management of Burkitt’s lymphoma.

Our Partners at SLICH:

Dr Donald Bash-Taqi.

Director of Training, Non-communicable Disease and Research, Ministry of Health and Sanitation and SLICH board member

Dr Bash-Taqi went to China in 1985 to obtain his medical degree and a diploma in Chinese medicine. Having worked as a medical officer in Sierra Leone, he returned to China in 1994 where he successfully studied for his Masters degree in Paediatrics and postgraduate diploma in Neonatology. In 1998 he started to practice as a paediatrician at Ola During Children’s Hospital and began his teaching career at College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone. Since 2009 he has been working for the Ministry of Health and Sanitation as the Director of Training, Non-communicable Disease and Research.

Our Partners at SLICH:

Tom Cairnes

Director, Welbodi Partnership.

Tom has been working in Sierra Leone since 2004. He is the founder of ManoCap, a private equity fund manager focused on making investments in post-conflict and other emerging economies. He has worked for Lansdowne Partners, a UK-based hedge fund manager focussing on UK equities and as a management consultant for Marakon Associates in London, New York, Amsterdam and Mexico. He has an M.Phil in Development Studies from Cambridge University, and a BA in Human Sciences from Oxford University.

Our Partners at SLICH:

Matron Mabel Carew

Matron Carew studied in Nigeria to become a state registered nurse and then to train in midwifery. When she returned to Sierra Leone she worked as a staff nurse at various hospitals before starting to specialise in community health. She returned to Nigeria to complete the fellowship programme for community health with the West African College of Nursing. As the Vice-Chairman of the Sierra Leone chapter she continues to have active role in the college. Her studies have led her to Israel, Cameroon and Mauritius and she has a particular interest in nurse education. She is the Chairman of the Nurses and Midwives Board of Sierra Leone and she has been in her current role as Chief Nursing Officer since 2008.

Our Partners at SLICH:

Matthew Clark

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Welbodi Partnership.

Matthew Clark spent an initial six weeks working at the Ola During Children's Hospital in 2007. Since then he has worked to find ways to support paediatric medicine in Sierra Leone, working fulltime in The children's hospital for more than six months and coordinating with the Ministry of Health in the formation of the Sierra Leone Institute for Child Health. In the UK he collaborates with international partners. Matthew studied medicine at Cambridge University and has a BSc. from the University of Birmingham.

Our Partners at SLICH:

Mr Suliman Daboh

Community Representative to the SLICH board.

Mr Daboh lives and works in Upgun, which is a community near Ola During Children’s Hospital. He had been a mechanic for over 20 years, specialising in generators and motorbikes. He has his own workshop which is next to the Jenner Wright primary health clinic. He is an elder in the community with special responsibility for representing local people with regards to their health needs.

Our Partners at SLICH:

Dr Muctarr A.S. Jalloh

Chairman of the SLICH board.

Dr Jalloh went to Russia to study medicine and once he had graduated in 1971, he returned to Sierra Leone where he built up his paediatric experience at various hospitals. This included setting up a new paediatric ward at Kenema District Hospital. In 1977 he obtained a scholarship to do post graduate training in the UK. Having gained a diploma in child health he worked in many different locations across the UK. When he returned to Freetown in 1985 he was based at Ola During Children’s Hospital and in time became the specialist in charge. He retired from that position in 2009 and currently has his own private practice for children.

Our Directors:

Dr Toyin Ajayi

Director, Welbodi Partnership

Toyin Ajayi is a Family Physician who first visited Sierra Leone in July 2007 when she spent two months working at the Government Hospital in Kambia District. She served as Medical Coordinator for the Welbodi Partnership from 2008-2009. Toyin has a medical degree from King’s College London School of Medicine, an MPhil in Development Studies from Cambridge University and a BA in Human Biology from Stanford University.

Our Directors:

Tom Cairnes

Director, Welbodi Partnership

Tom has been working in Sierra Leone since 2004. He is the founder of ManoCap, a private equity fund manager focused on making investments in post-conflict and other emerging economies. He has worked for Lansdowne Partners, a UK-based hedge fund manager focussing on UK equities and as a management consultant for Marakon Associates in London, New York, Amsterdam and Mexico. He has an M.Phil in Development Studies from Cambridge University, and a BA in Human Sciences from Oxford University.

Our Directors:

Matthew Clark

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Welbodi Partnership

Matthew Clark spent an initial six weeks working at the Ola During Children's Hospital in 2007. Since then he has worked to find ways to support paediatric medicine in Sierra Leone, working fulltime in The children's hospital for more than six months and coordinating with the Ministry of Health in the formation of the Sierra Leone Institute for Child Health. In the UK he collaborates with international partners. Matthew studied medicine at Cambridge University and has a BSc. from the University of Birmingham.

Our Directors:

Ryann Manning

Director, Welbodi Partnership

Ryann served as Coordinator of the Welbodi Partnership from 2007-2009. She lived in Sierra Leone from 2006-2010 and also managed projects for the World Bank and Concern Worldwide. Ryann has worked in international health and development since 2001 and has degrees in public policy from Princeton University and Harvard University. She is currently a doctoral student in Organizational Behaviour at the Harvard Business School, studying organizational change and effectiveness in public sector institutions and international agencies in developing countries.

Our Directors:

Dr Emily Spry

Director, Welbodi Partnership

Emily is a UK General Practitioner and was the Welbodi Partnership Medical Coordinator in Sierra Leone in 2009-2010. She trained at St. George’s Hospital Medical School and has a BA in Psychology and Philosophy from St. Anne’s College, Oxford. She is pursuing an MSc in Public Health in Developing Countries at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Our Partners:

Government of Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation

The Institute is part of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation's national strategy for reproductive and health for 2008-2010. We meet weekly with ministry officials, including the Minister Dr Soccoh Kabia, all of whom have been directly involved in planning and preparation for the Institute.

Our Partners:

Ola During Children's Hospital

The Ola During Children's Hospital is the tertiary paediatric referral centre for the whole of Sierra Leone. It also serves as the paediatric training facility for the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS). The hospital is located in the densely-populated eastern part of Freetown, adjacent to Princess Christian Memorial Hospital, the maternity referral centre. Staff of Ola During have been involved in planning for the Institute since its very inception.

Our Partners:

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust

ABM University NHS Trust is the largest in Wales, covering a population of around 600,000 people and employing 16,000 staff. It launched on 1st April, 2008, from the merger of the former Swansea and Bro Morgannwg NHS Trusts, the latter of which established a health link in 2007 with the Ola During Children's Hospital. The trust's chairman Winston James Griffiths, a former Minister in the UK government, has visited Sierra Leone several times and works closely with the Welbodi Partnership team to direct technical and financial support from the trust.

Our Partners:

Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET)

THET has a successful track record forming long-term health links between health institutions in the UK and the developing world, many of them in Africa. THET connected the Weldbodi Partnership with Dr. Thomas Lissauer, and provides ongoing advice to our work.

Our Friends:

Take On Africa

A 20,000 km journey by bike from the UK to Cape Town will help raise money for the Welbodi Partnership. www.takeonafrica.com

Our Friends:

Hope Through Healing Hands

A nonprofit that promotes an improved quality of life using health as a currency for peace. www.hopethroughhealinghands.org

Our Friends:

The SME Marketing Company

An experienced internet marketing company based in the UK, we are providing social media training, Facebook Fan Page design and ongoing internet marketing support to the Welbodi Partnership in order to strengthen their online presence amongst their target audience.