Pikin Welbodi Centre

Eid Mubarak! On this blessed day, let's pray for peace, harmony, and goodwill for all Sierra Leoneans.

Today, 1st December, is .

On this day, Pikin Welbodi Centre joins people living with HIV and communities around the world in one shared call to action: EQUALIZE. We are calling on global leaders and citizens to boldly recognize and address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS; and equalize access to essential HIV services particularly for children and other vulnerable populations. There is need to equalize access to rights, equalize access to services, equalize access to resources, equalize access to the best science and medicine.

This is how we will end HIV/AIDS!

“The inequalities that perpetuate the AIDS pandemic can and must be overcome. We can end AIDS. If we Equalize” - António Guterres

Today, Pikin Welbodi Centre (PWC) celebrates its 2nd anniversary of serving the children of Sierra Leone. This day is an opportunity for us to reflect on our achievements, best practices, lessons learnt and our challenges in providing specialized care for children. Our goal is to help children get back to being children! Our mission is important! We are proud to be leaders in children’s care and education of parents and caregivers. This anniversary is just another stepping stone for us. We will continue to do our best to provide high-quality care for your children, because they are absolutely worth it!

It has taken a village of dedicated individuals to build PWC. We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to our families and friends, our supportive stakeholders, and our current team delivering high-quality care to children and adolescents. Thank you and may God bless you all.

We are WARRIORS!

"Warriors are not what you think of as warriors. The Warrior is not someone who fights, because no one has the right to take another life. The warrior, for us, is one who sacrifices herself for the good of others. Her task is to take care of the elderly, the defenseless, those who cannot provide for themselves, and above all, the children, the future of humanity". Sitting Bull

At Pikin Welbodi Centre, we are indeed 'WARRIORS FOR CHILDREN', and we believe that your child is worth it. The future of humanity in Sierra Leone depends on people like us, and we take this very seriously! It is a privilege to be able to care for your children. This is our passion! This is our calling! This is why we are warriors!

Happy Blessed 2022 to all our clients and their families, our friends, families, loved ones and all who have supported us in one way or the other. May this new year bring us all love, joy, peace, good health, and many blessings. As we celebrate the new year, let us all continue to appreciate our blessings, support each other, and comfort those in need.
As always, the team at Pikin Welbodi Centre will continue to provide the best care for your children, because they are worth it.

Let us tell you about this smile. She got a Christmas gift from the team at the Pikin Welbodi Centre and Foundation when she least expected it. She would never forget this day. We made a difference in her life. This is what we are about at Pikin Welbodi Centre and Pikin Welbodi Foundation. We aspire to make a difference in every child's life because every child matters!

The team at the Pikin Welbodi Centre was able to light up sick children's Christmas this year. A Christmas Donation Drive was organized by the team through the Pikin Welbodi Foundation, which resulted in over 200 sick children, admitted at the Ola During Children’s Hospital over the Christmas holidays, being gifted with toys, clothes, shoes, blankets, milk, cereal, other food items, diapers, wipes, soap, books, pencils, pens etc. Seeing the smiles on the children's faces was priceless. This is what happens when passion meets purpose. Making children happy makes us happy. At Pikin Welbodi Centre, we love what we do, and we are passionate about children. We believe that EVERY CHILD MATTERS!
Thank you to our generous donors,
families and friends for making this possible. God bless you!

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for sharing our passion for supporting children. With holidays just around the corner, now is a perfect time to transform children's lives with a gift. A small donation of cash or in kind will help make a sick child's hospital stay over the holidays as enjoyable as possible. You can make a difference in a child's life this Christmas. We need your help!

Because every child matters!

World Children’s day is celebrated on 20th November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare.
At Pikin Welbodi Centre, in addition to providing quality and specialized medical services for children, we also advocate, promote, and celebrate children's rights, translating this into dialogues and actions that will build a better nation for the children of Sierra Leone. As parents, guardians, teachers, nurses, doctors, government leaders and civil society activists, religious and community elders, corporate moguls and media professionals, as well as young people and children, you can play your part too. Please join us to work for and with children to help them achieve their full potential, and hence contribute to the socioeconomic development of families and our country Sierra Leone.

Mental Health: What Does It Mean for Children?

Every year, World Mental Health Day is held on 10th October. This year, the theme for World Mental Health Day was "Mental Health in an Unequal World". World Mental Health Day is dedicated to promoting the understanding of mental health education, awareness, and advocacy. It's important to raise awareness of mental health conditions and ensure that communities recognize the part each person must play in creating a mentally healthy society.

Being mentally healthy during childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems. Mentally healthy children have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, in school, and in their communities. Childhood mental disorders can be treated and managed. Early diagnosis and appropriate services for children and their families can make a difference in the lives of children with mental disorders.

What you can do?

For parents/guardians: You know your child best. Talk to your child’s healthcare professional if you have concerns about the way your child behaves at home, in school, or with friends.

For youths: It is just as important to take care of your mental health as it is to take care of your physical health. If you are angry, worried, or sad, don’t be afraid to talk about your feelings and reach out to a trusted friend or adult or healthcare professional.

For teachers/school administrators: Early identification is important so that children can get the help they need. Work with families and healthcare professionals if you have concerns about the mental health of a child in your school.

Supporting children’s mental health also includes making sure children meet developmental milestones, understanding what to do when there is a concern, supporting positive parenting strategies, and improving access to care. At Pikin Welbodi Centre, we can support your child’s mental health to ensure their optimal growth and development.

In the context of childhood development, physical growth is an irreversible constant increase in size. Development is growth in function and capability. Both processes highly depend on genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors.

Healthy Development
The early years of a child’s life are very important for his or her health and development. Healthy development means that children of all abilities, including those with special health care needs, can grow up where their social, emotional, and educational needs are met. Having a safe and loving home and spending time with family―playing, singing, reading, and talking―are very important. Proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep also can make a big difference.

Effective Parenting Practices
Parenting takes many different forms. However, some positive parenting practices work well across diverse families and in diverse settings when providing the care that children need to be happy and healthy, and to grow and develop well. A recent report looked at the evidence in scientific publications for what works, and found these key ways that parents can support their child’s healthy development:

• Responding to children in a predictable way
• Showing warmth and sensitivity
• Having routines and household rules
• Sharing books and talking with children
• Supporting health and safety
• Using appropriate discipline without harshness

At Pikin Welbodi Centre, we evaluate your child’s growth and development, which is a crucial element in the physical examination of any child. The early recognition of growth or developmental failure helps for effective intervention in managing a child's problem. We developed the ‘Mi Welbodi Buk’ to enable you to learn about the useful practices you need to undertake to promote the health and development of your child. Furthermore, this booklet would help both you and your child’s health workers to follow your child’s growth and development and keep records of your child’s health. ‘Mi Welbodi Buk’ is available at Pikin Welbodi Centre at 25 Lightfoot Boston Street, Freetown.