One year ago this week, the UK government announced a boost in defence spending. It came at the expense of drastic cuts to the foreign aid budget.
[Subscribe to our Substack newsletter: https://channel4news.substack.com/subscribe]
So far there has been little clear guidance on where the axe will fall.
But those providing maternity and newborn care in Sierra Leone, say they’re on the cliff edge.
Outcomes for mothers and babies had vastly improved with UK and US funding, and while the foreign office says allocations aren’t set out yet, local doctors tell us the money is drying up.
The Foreign Office says it ‘remains committed to international development’ and has been clear it ‘must modernise its approach to reflect the changing global context.’
We have a special report set over one dramatic week in the busiest hospital corridors in Freetown, from filmmakers Paul Myles and Chris Walter.
A warning, their film, narrated by Minnie Stephenson, contains graphic scenes of childbirth and of baby loss – that viewers may find disturbing.
For support: http://channel4.com/support
Filmed, produced and directed by: Paul Myles and Chris Walter
Editor: Sophie Larkin-Tannett
Co-producer: Eliza Anyangwe
Executive producer for Channel 4 News: Dani Isdale
Film produced for Channel 4 News by On Our Radar in partnership with @fullerproject.
——-
Get more news at our site – https://www.channel4.com/news/
Subscribe to our Substack newsletter: https://channel4news.substack.com/subscribe
Follow us:
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@c4news
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/channel4news/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/Channel4News
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Channel4News/
