Births and deaths

Birth registration is a basic right so many people take for granted. Only 49% of children in Sierra Leone have a birth cert. That means the other half can't access lots of basic services we take for granted in the 'west'.

This photo really brought home to me how crippled the system is - all records since 1890 kept in 1 room, with no apparent order, but I'm sure there is method in their madness. The central government office for birth and death registration has 1 computer, donated 6 years ago so now it lies in a corner gathering dust.

There has to be light at the end of the tunnel? off to find it now!