and national governments pledging funding and medical personnel to help combat the crisis. The UK has opened six Ebola treatment centres across Sierra Leone, sending hundreds of UK doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to help treat patients and educate communities about preventative measures. Communicable diseases along with maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions in Sierra Leone accounted for an estimated 66 per cent of all mortality in 2012. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone, as a percentage of people aged 15–49 years, stood at 1.6 per cent in 2012. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone increased consistently from 1990 before plateauing in 2007. In 2012 there were a reported 1,537,322 cases of malaria in the country. Malaria has seen a rapid increase in the number of deaths and confirmed cases since 2005, although these figures did begin to decrease in 2010. In the period 1990–2010 there was a gradual and consistent increase in estimated incidence of tuberculosis (TB), while estimated mortality (when mortality data excludes cases comorbid with HIV) from this disease decreased in the same period. S i e r r a L e o n e Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Sierra Leone accounted for an estimated 26 per cent of all mortality in 2012. The most prevalent NCDs in Sierra Leone are cardiovascular diseases, which accounted for nine per cent of total deaths across all age groups in 2008. Cancer, non-communicable variants of respiratory diseases and diabetes each contributed two per cent to total mortality (2012). Injuries accounted for eight per cent of deaths in 2012. The most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder in Sierra Leone is post-traumatic stress disorder. Health systems: In 2012 government expenditure on health was 2.5 per cent of GDP, equivalent to US$6 per capita. In the most recent survey, conducted in the period 1997–2010, there were two doctors, and 17 nurses and midwives per 100,000 people. Additionally, in 2010, 61 per cent of births were attended by qualified health staff and in 2013, 83 per cent of one-year-olds were immunised with one dose of measles. In 2012, 60 per cent of people were using an improved drinking water source and 13 per cent had access to adequate sanitation facilities. The most recent survey, conducted in the period 2000–11, found that Sierra Leone has three pharmaceutical personnel per 100,000 people. Health care infrastructure was severely damaged during the country’s civil war. Many clinics were looted. International charities, such as the Red Cross, are still very active in Sierra Leone, helping to plug gaps in health care until long-term improvements can be made. Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015 259 Under-five mortality 300 250 200 150 100 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Under-five mortality per 1,000 live births 2015 MDG 4 target 50 Life expectancy and HIV/AIDS 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 1980 1990 2000 2013 Prevalence of HIV/AIDS among those aged 15–49 Life expectancy Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population aged 15-49) Life expectancy in years 50 40 30 0.0 Mortality by cause of death (% of all deaths), 2012 Injuries Communicable diseases, maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions Non-communicable diseases Tuberculosis: Incidence and mortality 1990 2000 2010 Mortality excluding cases comorbid with HIV (per100,000 people) Incidence of tuberculosis (per 100,000 people) – including cases comorbid with HIV 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0
Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
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