The West African country of Sierra Leone has one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world. According to UNICEF, 167 out of every 1,000 children die before their fifth birthday and 1,300 women dying for every 100,000 live births. Thus with the highest infant mortality rate in the world, Sierra Leone is sadly touted as the worst place in the world to be a baby, and therefore from birth children face a life of difficulties. The country still is struggling to recover from its bloody civil war, which has left those babies who do survive, left to face a future of disease, violence and poverty. (The Independent).
UNICEF and other aid organizations have, and are, working to establish feeding centers and various immunization programs around the country in an effort to decrease the child and maternal mortality rates. However there is much that needs to be done in the country, and while the programs in place do help, resources, including education, are strained and access is often out of reach. Many women are unable to access proper medical assistance for child birth, and herbal medicines are often all many women look to in times of need.
