ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the relationship between peace and health; provides an examination of the main challenges confronting the health sector in Sierra Leone and offers simple, but critical recommendations whose implementation would help to save lives. It begins by briefly examining the epidemiological profile of the country. Many of the health indicators discussed are based on WHO sources. One of the terrible ironies of the Sierra Leonean peace process is that in many respects health provision has worsened in the post-conflict period as international actors have moved on to the next emergency. To better understand the current context of health in Sierra Leone and the health sector, the author conducted an exploratory study that involved practicing physicians in Sierra Leone. Public health offers an upstream approach and is focused on prevention. This allows for the prevention of the onset of disease. The downstream approach, utilized by the medical model is primarily concerned with treatment or clinical care after disease onset.
