Charting a Course for Effective Emergency Response in Sierra Leone

Dr. Michael L. Rogers was known as a talented and compassionate physician, a visionary in medicine who was committed to providing access to quality healthcare to residents in communities in need. 

While on a medical mission in Sierra Leone in January of this year, Dr. Rogers suddenly went into cardiac arrest. His untimely passing underscores the critical need for support in medical emergency response infrastructure in Sierra Leone. 

At the Michael L. Rogers Foundation we are channeling our deep emotions on this tragic loss as a catalyst for critical action in the under served communities of Sierra Leone. We are currently developing a multi-phased Sierra Leone Emergency Readiness Program which is focused on supporting the medical emergency response system as a whole, including:

• Identifying those clinics in the country in need of basic emergency readiness medical equipment (e.g., defibrillators, oxygen, vital signs monitoring), as well as the required training and resources 
• Providing a baseline of equipment to clinics
• Developing a readiness certification system for clinics and their personnel that includes certified training, road signage, and public education that will improve awareness and access to clinics and facilities that are equipped and that maintain a minimum readiness level 

When minutes and seconds make the difference between life and death, access to resources and preparation are critical. Our goal is to support the current medical staff and students of Sierra Leone with infrastructure and resources, so they can do the work they are committed to doing — saving lives and supporting the wellbeing of the patients in the clinics and communities they serve.