STACC gives top priority to reducing the U5MR (Under Five Mortality Rate).
The U5MR gives the probability of dying between birth and reaching the age
of five years. The U5MR in Sierra Leone is 262 deaths per 1000 live births.
U5MRs in Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania (Zanzibar), Kenya and Ghana are 189, 130,
116, 121 and 115, respectively (data from UNICEF). In the UK it is 6. The
health of young children is largely dependent on that of their mothers; ante-natal
and post-natal care feature prominently in the work.The planning and delivery of
health care is the responsibility of locally empowered and nationally registered
teams whose work depends on STACC for funds to buy medicines, supplies and
petrol, to purchase and maintain vehicles and to pay wages. STACC in Scotland
is run entirely by volunteers; there are no paid employees and none of its
Directors receives any remuneration. Over 95% of the money given to STACC
to support health care for African children is spent by health workers who
belong to the communities they serve. Health care is free at the point of
delivery.
Financial reserves are maintained to ensure continuation of the greatly valued health care made possible by the donations to STACC.