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P4 Executive Director’s LetterP6 Connecting with Mission P8 Holding Families Together Through Maternal HealthP10 Beyond the Clinic: Strengthening Health Systems in an Era of Global UncertaintyP14 Focused on Midwives & Capacity BuildingP16 Impact StoryP19 A Timeline of our Commitment to Maternal HealthContentsPUBLISHERDr. Melody Curtiss, J.D.CONTENT & RESEARCHYasmine VaughanDr. Laura Horvath, Ed. D.PROOFREADINGLinda ReinhardCONTRIBUTORSDr. Melody Curtiss, J.D.DESIGN & LAYOUTMarianna Mäkiniemi

Sierra Leone is the country with the highestinfant mortality rate, about 1 in every 13babies doesn’t survive. That’s 76 deathsper 1,000 births.Source: UNICEF, The State of African Children 2025: Statistical Compendium

Focusing the first issue on maternal mortality aswe launch 2025 was deliberate. It is a deeplyinterconnected issue. It reflects the availability ofhealthcare, the strength of social safety nets, andthe prioritization of women’s rights andwellbeing. Addressing it requires more thanisolated interventions; it demands holistic,sustainable strategies that tackle the root causesof poverty and inequality. Our work in WestAfrica underscores the power of collective actionand the importance of listening to and partneringwith local stakeholders.This issue highlights stories, insights, andinnovations from across the maternal healthlandscape. From community-led initiatives tobreakthroughs in training and education, wecelebrate the efforts of individuals andorganizations committed to making a difference.We hope their work inspires you, as it does us,to see the ripple effects of improving maternalhealth—not just for individual women, but forfamilies, communities, and future generations.We invite you to join us in championing thiscause during 2025. By supporting maternalhealth, we are addressing one of the mostfundamental drivers of poverty, preventing theunnecessary separation of children from theirfamilies, and creating a brighter, more equitablefuture. Even in a trial by fire, we find hope,innovation, and an enduring belief in the powerof collective action.Thank you for being part ofthis journey.In the Hands of God,Dr. Melody Curtiss, Esq.EXECUTIVE DIRECTORDear Readers,In Empower magazine, we explore pressingchallenges and transformative opportunities inour mission. Each issue is a conversation with ourreaders—and at the heart of this issue’sconversation is one of the most urgent andrevealing challenges of our time: maternal health.Maternal death rates are a powerful measure ofa country’s progress in addressing poverty andrepresent a profound upstream strategy fororphan prevention. When mothers thrive, familiesremain intact, and communities grow stronger.I don’t want to shy away from acknowledgingthat 2025 is a crucible year for philanthropy anddevelopment. Funds are limited, while conflictand challenge grows. This is the 25-yearanniversary of our mission to Bo, Sierra Leone,leading us to reflect on our past, and confront thefuture. The realities and challenges faced by theglobal sector have tested the resolve of many tocontinue. But here, at HCW, we stand firm in ourunwavering support for the vulnerable.It is in these moments of trial that we refine ourpurpose and reaffirm our commitment to the workthat matters most. The 25-year collaboration withallies in West Africa is a testament to thisresilience and the power of standing together insolidarity. We will celebrate that with you allyear. The stories shared from other regions drawus all together in our one shared world,deepening our resolve to make a difference for“every child, everywhere, in every way we can,”to focus on building sustainable systems thatwork when we are not present.Our mission in child health is just one of themany ways we work to help children worldwide.I hope you will read this issue with interest, butalso look for the coming issues, as we exploreour broad mission with you in focused detail andhighlight each in turn. Executive Director’s Letter

READ ABOUT MILESTONES ON PAGE 19This year marks our25th Anniversary!Join us in celebrating.

maternal and child health is a crucial strategy for orphan prevention. By addressing the rootcauses of vulnerability, we aim to build resilient communities where children can thrive. Ourmission is to empower local healthcare providers and strengthen health systems, ensuring thatmothers and children have access to the quality care they need to survive and flourish. Webelieve that by investing in sustainable solutions, we can create lasting change and break thecycle of poverty and despair. Sierra Leone is constrained by a weak health system that struggles to provide adequate care toits most vulnerable populations, particularly mothers and children. This deficiency results inalarmingly high maternal and infant mortality rates, leaving countless families devastated. Thelack of robust infrastructure, limited access to trained healthcare professionals, and inconsistentsupply chains contribute to a cycle of preventable illness and death. These systemic weaknessescreate a profound impact on families and communities, perpetuating cycles of poverty andvulnerability. Our approach to solving this complex problem is multifaceted. We provide vital support toMercy Hospital, a cornerstone of healthcare delivery in the region. We offer technical expertise,guidance, and resources to strengthen the hospital’s capacity to provide comprehensive care.This includes improving infrastructure, enhancing clinical training, and ensuring a consistentsupply of essential medical supplies. We broaden our impact by facilitating collaboration andknowledge sharing through our Together for Global Health Network, connecting organizationsand individuals dedicated to improving global health outcomes. This network fosterspartnerships, shares best practices, and leverages collective expertise to strengthen healthsystems. Connecting with Mission Did you know that SierraLeone’s maternal mortalityratio is six times higher thanglobal targets, and infantmortality is one of the highestin the world?One of our most crucial strategies is investing in the training ofmidwives and nurses, recognizing their critical role in providingquality maternal and child health services. Read more about thaton page 10. Our maternal health mission focuses on equippingthese frontline healthcare providers with the skills and knowledgethey need to provide safe and effective care. By strengtheningthe capacity of healthcare professionals, we are building a moreresilient and responsive health system that can better serve theneeds of mothers and children in Sierra Leone.In the following pages, we will explore in detailHelping Children Worldwide's multifaceted approach toaddressing the complex challenges of maternal mortality.Helping Children Worldwide (HCW) is committed tostrengthening families and communities, recognizing that a focus on

Every day, 700 women diefrom pregnancy-related causes.That’s onewoman,every twominutes.Source: WHO, Maternal Mortality Fact Sheet, last updated April 2025

“Even with a surviving parent,the emotional cost to survivingchildren can be devastating.”At Helping Children Worldwide, our commitmentto child health and reducing child mortality isclear. What may be less obvious is how thismission extends beyond children to includematernal health, capacity building, andstrengthening healthcare systems. Preventingmaternal deaths is not just a SustainableDevelopment Goal—it is a strategy for familypreservation and orphanhood prevention. Thereality is that most maternal deaths are caused bypreventable complications, and when a motherdies, the consequences ripple far beyond herown life.One of the most immediate and devastatingeffects of maternal mortality is the economic tollon the family. The loss of a mother’s income cansend a household into financial distress,especially in cases where she was the primary orco-breadwinner. Many women work in theirhouses in jobs like tailoring or helping on thefarm. When she passes away, that secondincome may be lost, or require the family to takeon additional laborers to offset the loss. Beyondher own children, many women also supportextended family members, paying school fees fornieces and nephews or contributing to their care.When she dies, these support networks collapse,leaving multiple children vulnerable. The family isthen burdened not only with the immediate lossof income but also with the financial strain ofhospital bills, burial costs, and the long-termstruggle of surviving without her contributions.While healthcare in Sierra Leone is supposed tobe free, in reality, families often face unexpectedexpenses for medical treatment, medication, andemergency care.Holding Families TogetherThrough Maternal HealthThe loss of a mother also means the loss of aprimary caregiver, leaving a significant burdenon surviving family members.Women traditionally play a central role in thehousehold—cooking, cleaning, caring forchildren, and tending to the sick. When a motherdies, these responsibilities must be redistributedamong grieving family members. Whileextended family, church communities, andneighbors may initially step in to help, thissupport is often temporary. Many children aresent to live with grandparents or other relativeswho may already be struggling to provide fortheir own families. While culturally accepted, thistransition is not easy, and it can place additionalfinancial and emotional stress on alreadyvulnerable households.

saving families, protecting children, andstrengthening communities. Through our work incapacity building and health systemstrengthening, Helping Children Worldwide iscommitted to reducing preventable maternaldeaths by training midwives, improvinghealthcare access, and supporting initiatives thatprioritize maternal and newborn health.On January 23, 2025, the world recognizedMaternal Health Awareness Day, with the theme“Know What’s at Stake.” The stories of thesefamilies make it painfully clear what is at stakewhen maternal health is neglected. By investingin maternal healthcare, we are not just savinglives—we are preserving families, preventingorphanhood, and ensuring that children have thestability and care they need to thrive. The fightagainst maternal mortality is a fight for the futureof entire generations.For older children, the loss of a mother can meanstepping into adult responsibilities far too soon.Many are forced to leave school to care foryounger siblings, take on household chores, orwork to supplement lost income. The cycle ofpoverty deepens as education is interrupted,limiting opportunities for a better future. Thesechildren, already dealing with immense grief,often feel pressure to fill the void left behind,making it difficult for them to process theiremotions or focus on their own development.Even with a surviving parent, the emotional costto surviving children can be devastating. In aconversation with the CRC case managementteam about child attachment, Case ManagementSupervisor George Kulanda shared that thehardest cases they encounter are those wherechildren have lost “that one person they knewthey could count on.” For the infant who was just born, the challengesare even more severe. Many of these childrennever get the chance to know the mother theylost, and some grow up feeling a deep sense ofresponsibility for her death. However, the harshreality is that most of these newborns do notsurvive at all. With the loss of their primarysource of nutrition—mother’s milk—newbornsface a high risk of malnutrition. Infant formula isexpensive and often unaffordable for families,leading to severe undernourishment. Studiesshow that more than half, and in some cases upto 80%, of newborns who lose their mothers die—many within the first month of life.The emotional toll of maternal death extendsbeyond children to the grieving husband andextended family. A husband loses not only hispartner but also his co-parent, his support system,and in many cases, the person who held thehousehold together. Studies show that morethan half, and in somecases up to 80%, ofnewborns who lose theirmothers die—many within the first monthof life.This is why preventingmaternal mortality is notjust about saving mothers—it’s about

Beyond the Clinic:Strengthening HealthSystems in an Era ofGlobal Uncertainty

Our partnership with Mercy Hospital in SierraLeone exemplifies this approach. Mercy Hospital,an autonomous organization serving over13,000 patients annually, is a testament to thepower of local leadership. Beyond the generouscontributions of our donors, the true value HCWbrings to this partnership lies in our ability toprovide technical expertise and strategicguidance, strengthening the hospital’sinfrastructure and operational capacity.Our role is to support Mercy Hospital inenhancing its ability to provide comprehensivecare to the community. This includes assistingwith financial management, improving supplychain logistics, and enhancing clinical trainingprograms. By focusing on these fundamental aspects of thehealth system, we enable Mercy Hospital tooperate more efficiently, effectively, andsustainably. This approach ensures that thehospital can continue to provide essentialservices long after our direct involvementconcludes, fostering a legacy of improved healthoutcomes for the community.In the realm of healthcare, health systemstrengthening is an often overlooked topic, yet itrepresents the bedrock upon which effectivehealthcare delivery is built. Good healthcare ismore than just doctors diagnosing and providingmedicine; it’s about creating a robust, resilientnetwork that ensures quality care reacheseveryone, especially the most vulnerable. It’s acommon misconception that simply establishing afacility with medical staff equates to a functionalhealthcare system; many organizations fall intothe trap of believing that a building andpersonnel alone are sufficient, overlooking thecritical supporting infrastructure needed forsustainable, effective care. Health systemstrengthening addresses the fundamentalelements that make healthcare function,encompassing everything from the personnel whohandle billing and administrative tasks, to therigorous training doctors receive in diagnosis andprocedures, and the consistent supply of essentialmedical equipment and pharmaceuticals. Theseinterconnected components form the backbone ofa functional healthcare system.Health system strengthening empowerscommunities to prevent and manage diseases,improves maternal and child health outcomes,and builds resilience against public healthemergencies. Furthermore, robust systems fosterefficiency and sustainability, maximizing theimpact of limited resources and ensuring thathealthcare investments yield long-term benefits.When healthcare systems are weak, even themost well-intentioned interventions can falter,leaving communities underserved and vulnerable.A weak health system damages theorganization’s reputation, results in unnecessarydeaths and harm, and erodes community trust,leading to decreased service utilization asresidents lose faith in the system’s ability toprovide effective care.Helping Children Worldwide (HCW) operatesfirmly within the health system strengtheningparadigm. While we deeply value the provisionof direct care, we recognize that sustainablechange requires a focus on building capacityand strengthening the systems that deliver thatcare.By investing in the infrastructure,personnel, and processes thatunderpin healthcare delivery, we cancreate a world where everyone hasaccess to the quality care they need tothrive. Through our partnership withMercy Hospital, the Together forGlobal Health network, and ourexpanded training initiatives, HelpingChildren Worldwide is committed tostrengthening health systems andbuilding a healthier future for childrenand families around the globe.

Recognizing the critical role of skilled birthattendants in reducing maternal and neonatalmortality, HCW has been expanding its healthsystem strengthening efforts to includecomprehensive training for midwives and nursesin rural communities. By equipping these frontlinehealthcare providers with the latest knowledgeand skills, we are strengthening the capacity ofthe entire maternal healthcare system. Thisinitiative will empower midwives to provide safeand effective care, ultimately contributing tohealthier mothers and newborns throughout thecountry.Through our Together for Global Health Network,Helping Children Worldwide is activelystrengthening health systems by sharing years ofexpertise gained at Mercy Hospital, fosteringcollaborative advice, resource sharing, andstrategic partnerships that empowerorganizations to build more resilient and effectivehealthcare delivery models all over the world.With the recent changes in InternationalDevelopment happening in the United States,transferring capacity to local leaders throughTrain the Trainer programs, establishing networksfor internal resilience, and upgradingmechanisms, processes, and equipment isespecially important now. The potentialdissolution of USAID signals more than just areduction in funding and supplies for hospitalsand clinics around the world; it represents asystemic disruption of established supply chains,serving as a stark reminder for organizations tocritically examine their reliance on externalsystems and prioritize the development of moreresilient, locally-driven models.Ultimately, health system strengthening is aboutbuilding a foundation for lasting change. Byinvesting in the infrastructure, personnel, andprocesses that underpin healthcare delivery, wecan create a world where everyone has access tothe quality care they need to thrive. Through ourpartnership with Mercy Hospital, the Together forGlobal Health network, and our expandedtraining initiatives, Helping Children Worldwideis committed to strengthening health systems andbuilding a healthier future for children andfamilies around the globe.

Focused on Midwives& Capacity BuildingThrough the dedicated efforts of the Ministry ofHealth and Sanitation (MOHS) in Sierra Leoneand its partners, maternal mortality in the countryhas dropped by an impressive 74% over the past20 years. Once the most dangerous place in theworld to give birth, Sierra Leone is no longereven among the top ten countries with the highestmaternal mortality rates. Today, the country has alower maternal mortality ratio than the WestAfrica regional average, a testament to theprogress made. However, despite these gains,there is still much work to do. According toMOHS data, 443 mothers die per 100,000 livebirths in Sierra Leone—a rate that is still six timeshigher than the Sustainable Development Goal(SDG) target of fewer than 70 maternal deathsper 100,000 births. The Ministry of Health hasset an ambitious goal of reducing this ratio to300 per 100,000 by 2025. At the same time,while maternal mortality has decreased, infantmortality has worsened, with Sierra Leone nowhaving the highest infant mortality rate in theworld at 75 deaths per 1,000 live births.The leading causes of maternal death in SierraLeone—obstetric hemorrhage, hypertension,obstructed labor, and sepsis—are largelypreventable with timely medical intervention.Similarly, prematurity, birth asphyxia, sepsis, andpneumonia account for most neonatal deaths, allof which can be drastically reduced with high-quality maternal and newborn care.HCW has long supported maternal health inSierra Leone through Mercy Hospital, whichprovides comprehensive maternal healthcareboth at the hospital and through its outreachprograms. But our impact extends beyond Mercy.Through our Together for Global Health (TGH)network, we collaborate with maternal and childhealth clinics, hospitals,Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office of theMinistry of Health and Sanitation to build thecapacity of nurses and midwives across thecountry. The World Health Organization (WHO)estimates that skilled midwives could preventover 80% of maternal and neonatal deaths. Yet,many midwives in Sierra Leone have neverreceived hands-on training due to educationaland resource constraints. Without access toadequate mentorship and practical experience,even trained midwives may lack the confidenceand competence to act swiftly in life-threateningsituations. Research shows that while serviceproximity plays a role, the quality of maternalhealth services has a more significant impact onwhether women utilize them. Also, over half ofmaternal and newborn deaths result from poorquality of care rather than lack of access,emphasizing the need for improved training andskill-building to strengthen maternal healthservices.A key initiative withinTGH is ourpartnership with theand birth waitinghomes to shareresources, expertise,and best practices. Byworking together, weensure that moremothers and babiesreceive the care theyneed, regardless ofwhere they live.

At Helping Children Worldwide (HCW), werecognize that investing in midwives is one of themost effective ways to reduce maternal and infantmortality. Through our programs, we are workingto increase the skills and confidence of midwivesto perform life-saving interventions. Ourapproach includes training conferences, ongoingmentorship, and providing essential medicalsupplies and equipment for continued education.By incorporating Low Dose, High Frequency(LDHF) training, we ensure that midwives retainand refine their skills over time, even in low-resource settings. Last year, 94 maternal andnewborn health providers—many of whom hadnot received refresher training in over two years—participated in a skills-based trainingconference. The impact was significant: 83% ofparticipants passed their skills assessments andreceived certifications, and post-trainingevaluations showed a 21% increase in theirconfidence to perform life-saving procedures.Using the Helping Mothers Survive and EssentialNewborn Care curricula, the training focused onpostpartum hemorrhage management andnewborn resuscitation, two of the most criticalinterventions in preventing maternal and infantdeaths. This January, an additional 47 nursesand midwives were trained in this curricula witha pass rate of 96%.What makes this initiative especially powerful isits Training of Trainers approach. Experiencedhealthcare providers from Sierra Leone, the U.S.,and Canada served as master trainers,mentoring Rising Trainers—local midwives andnurses who are now continuing to train theirpeers. This ripple effect ensures that the skillslearned during the conference will continue tospread across healthcare facilities, improvingmaternal and newborn health services farbeyond the initial training.Looking ahead, HCW and our partners remaincommitted to strengthening the maternalhealthcare system in Sierra Leone. By trainingmore midwives, expanding mentorship programs,and ensuring access to essential resources, weare working toward a future where no motherdies from preventable causes and every newbornhas a chance to survive and thrive.

Impact StoryFROM LEARNER TO LEADER: NURSE ISATU – A CHAMPION FOR MATERNALHEALTH IN SIERRA LEONENurse Isatu, a dedicated midwife from CHASL-member Nixon Memorial UMC Hospital inSegbwema, is a shining example of howinvesting in midwifery training creates a rippleeffect of positive change. Isatu’s journey with usbegan when she participated in our maternaland newborn health training in Bo in January2024.She not only excelled in the training but alsodemonstrated outstanding leadership andteaching abilities, making it clear that she wasnot just learning for herself—she was learning touplift others. Following her training, Isatu took hernewfound skills and knowledge back to NixonMemorial UMC Hospital, where she led trainingsfor her fellow midwives, ensuring that the impactof the program extended beyond her ownlearning. She utilized the supplies and materialsprovided through the training to equip hercolleagues with better tools and knowledge,strengthening maternal and newborn care at herfacility.a trainer for this year’s maternal health trainingin Kenema. Seeing her step into the role of a fullTrainer—sharing her experiences and guidingfellow nurses and midwives—was an inspiringtestament to the power of capacity building andmentorship. Isatu’s transformation from trainee totrainer embodies the sustainable impact we strivefor: empowering local healthcare providers totake ownership of improving maternal andnewborn health in their own communities.Each midwife she trains, each life-saving skill sheshares, and each mother and baby who receivesbetter care because of her efforts contribute to astronger healthcare system.Her story is a powerful reminder that sustainablechange in global health starts with investing inpeople. Thanks to generous support from ourdonors and partners, nurses like Isatu areleading the charge in reducing maternal andnewborn mortality, ensuring safer births,healthier mothers, and stronger communitiesacross Sierra Leone.By equipping local championslike Isatu, we are not just improvingindividual skills—we are buildinga network of empowered healthcareproviders who will continue this life-saving work for years to come.Recognizing her dedication and expertise, wewere thrilled to invite Nurse Isatu back as

A powerful coalition of providers, NGOs,and health workers in 43 countries,collaborating to increase provider capacityand maternal/infant health in the globalsouth.Mercy UMC HospitalA fully-staffed modern hospital in Bo,Sierra Leone, providing outreach clinics toremote villages, in partnership with HCW.Together for Global HealthOur 2025 Maternal & Child Health Reportunderscores why Maternal Health Matters.

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Dr Cynthia Horner, a founding HCW Boardmember, traveled on the first team to SierraLeone in January 2002. She traveled on 10teams between 2002 and 2015, each timeexpanding the impact on medical servicesthrough HCW mission activities. During thesevisits, she focused on on maternal and childhealth services that would serve the destitutecommunity in Bo. Then she began to expandingservices to villages, evaluating the impact thataccess to primary community care, nutritionservices, medical staff training, specialtyproviders to augment staff capacity, and hospital management criteriawould have on establishing MercyUMC Hospital as a regional hubfor services.Join uscelebratingthese milestonesin our alliances!2002 Medical Missons,Dr. Cynthia HornerA Timeline of our Commitment toMaternal Health

After HCW assisted UMC SLAC in acquiring land for anexpanded urban missions campus in Bo, the CRC residentialchildren were moved into a renovated building while otherfacilities could be built and renovated. The CRC had a singlenurse who cared for the children at the new site. But whenmission teams were visiting, medical personnel were oftenpart of the mission team headed by Dr. Horner, and localswould flock to the CRC clinic to get medical care when theyheard a team was in Bo. Later teams were sent to nearbycommunities to provide clinical services, where the numbersgrew exponentially due to the scarcity of services. Clinic Established

Dave Stenger traveled over each year from 2006 - 2009. Once Mercyopened at the end of 2007, Dave Stenger established a link between thehospital and the Naval Research Lab (NRL) where he worked. Supportedby Universities in US and Sierra Leone and the NRL, and operatedunder an MOU with HCW & SLAC, NRL conducts and publishessignificant research on tropical and endemic diseases prevalent in SierraLeone, and recently conducted relevant research related to the Malariavaccine. This MOU is being renewed between SLAC and NRL, and apotential new collaboration with Howard University on Sickle Cellresearch. Mercy Research LabThe funding campaign forMercy Hospital was asuccess, and the hospitalopened in 2007.This prompted Sierra Leone UMC Bishop Joseph Humper to discuss thepossibility of establishing a hospital on site in collaboration with HCW, and theHCW leadership to begin to consider the wisdom of expanding its mission toaddress the impact of health services on child survival in Sierra Leone. A plan toformalize the maternal/infant mission was adopted, and a funding campaignwas launched to support the mission.From Clinic to Hospital

A plan for services to lower the high maternal/infant death rate in themost impoverished communities was developed in a collaboration betweenGBGM, HCW, Project CURE, and UMC SLAC. Project Cure’s SLKUEMI Project launched in 2015 and concluded in 2018 had lastingbenefits in formalizing Mercy’s free prenatal and specialty clinics forpregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under 5. Known as theMercy Outreach Program, they expanded this work to include freenutrition for malnourished infants in the surrounding villages. As funding isavailable, free clinic services are expanded to serve other identified villagemedical needs as a part of the Village Partnership program.2015Dr. Carol McIntosh, an internationally renowned anddecorated OBGYN and one of three medical doctors whohave served as HCW board members, began repeated HCWmedical mission trips to SL in 2012. Recognizing anunsupported need for cervical cancer screening,Dr. Carol made arrangements to securescreening equipment for her next trip in 2013.Screening continued annually through 2018.2016 Cervical Cancer Screening

2016 - 2019 The Operating andCritical Care Wing was plannedand built as a major hospitalexpansion project. EbenezerUMC provided major funding tokick off fundraising campaign.2020 Dr. ArunaStevens, one of theoriginal residents ofthe CRC, becomesChief MedicalOfficer at Mercy.2019 Dedication and openingof the Surgical Suites andCritical Care Wing.

The opening of Mercy Hospital's surgical wing immediately highlightedthe critical need for infrastructure, such as a reliable blood supply.Hospitals require blood for various life-saving procedures, includingsurgeries, trauma care, and the treatment of severe anemia orcomplications from childbirth. Recognizing this urgent need, Churchof the Lakes (COL) generously donated a blood bank, ensuring acontinuous and readily available source of blood for the hospital'spatients. Power needs, and other specialized equipment needs weresupported by COL and many others.

After nearly 15 years of supporting Mercy Hospital andcollaborating on various health programs, werecognized two crucial elements: the continuednecessity of collaborative partnership to share learningand expand impact, and the potential to leverage ourexperience in managing global alliances to strengthenother healthcare initiatives. This realization led us totwo pivotal networks in 2021: We convened our ownnetwork called Together for Global Health, aconsortium of small to medium-sized organizations tofoster resource sharing, knowledge exchange, andcollaborative action. We also joined ChristianConnections for International Health, a network offaith-based organizations committed to Christian-centered health promotion. HCW operates as an activemember in CCIH collaborative efforts to advancehealth systems globally.2021

The success of our Together for Global Health (TGH)network inspired the theme for our 2021 Rising TidesConference, which convened TGH membersalongside other global health organizations andnetworks for collaborative idea-sharing. This eventmarked the first in-person gathering following therecent merger of TGH with the Compassionate BirthNetwork, creating an exceptionally valuableexchange. The conference's overwhelming successcatalyzed a powerful collaboration between HelpingChildren Worldwide, Tenki for Born, and the HealeyInternational Relief Foundation, focusing onadvancing maternal and child health initiatives.

Church of the Lakes, Floris United Methodist Church, and generousanonymous donors collectively funded the revitalization of MercyHospital's laboratory, providing new, state-of-the-artequipmentment and vital upgrades to the campus for cleanliness andsafety of the patients. Investment in infrastructure and equipmentexpanded the hospital's diagnostic capabilities, enabling a wider rangeof tests to be performed on-site, which directly enhanced treatmentdecisions and improved patient outcomes. Additionally, the expandedlaboratory services generated increased income for the hospital,contributing to its financial sustainability.2023

Forged from connections made at the Rising Tides conference,Together for Global Health members Tenki for Born, HealeyInternational Relief Foundation, and Helping ChildrenWorldwide collaborated to host their inaugural maternal andchild health training conference in Bo. This conference focusedon empowering local midwives and nurses, building theircompetence and confidence in essential procedures to combat theleading causes of maternal and infant mortality. The eventsuccessfully trained nearly 100 midwives, achieving a skills andknowledge evaluation pass rate exceeding 80%.2024In 2024, Mercy Hospital acquired anX-ray machine, significantly enhancingdiagnostic and treatment capabilitieswhile relieving patients of the arduousand costly journey to Freetown forimaging services.

Mercy Hospitalinitiates the firstSickle Cell screeningclinic in SierraLeone. HAPPY 25th ANNIVERSARY!This year marks a milestone inour work. Throughout the monthof July we will celebrate with ourfriends in Bo a quarter-century ofcherished relationship and ourjoint mission to serve the least. 2025Continued investment in infrastructureimprovements with the generous donation of ahigh speed internet system for all of the urbancampus in Bo. The installation of the StarLinknetwork will provide the professional staff atMercy and CRC with consistent, reliableinternet access.The second Togetherfor Global HealthMaternal HealthMidwifery TrainingMission.

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Please support our work:A final word to our readers. Helping children thrive is our mission—worldwide, and for the long haul. We take a bold, collaborative approach to tackle the root causes ofthe challenges children face in 2025 and will face in the years ahead. Throughstrategic alliances, we ensure donor resources are used with integrity to drivesustainable progress and uphold ethical, community-led missions.The next issue of Empower magazine will spotlight critical challenges in childprotection, child welfare, and family strengthening—and feature the people andorganizations working with HCW to address those issues and lay foundations forlifelong resilience.Future editions will explore how we build community resilience, advanceeconomic empowerment, and foster strong, principled global partnerships.Discover more about this vital work now at helpingchildrenworldwide.org.www.helpingchildrenworldwide.orgDon’t forget to follow us:support@helpingchildrenworldwide.orgLivesTransformedHOW DOES MYDONATIONHELP CHILDRENWORLDWIDETODAY?YourDonationSupport MercyUMC Hospital’sStaff & Programs Get in touch:

If you would like to know more about our maternal health mission, you may contact our technical advisor for global health and missions, Yasmine Vaughan.