ABOUT US
International Mutual Aid began during the Ebola Crisis of 2014, with founders Colin Dunn and Virginia Price traveling to Sierra Leone. Working as emergency medical responders, they partnered with local partners to provide aide. Opening a clinic in the small village of Gbamandu, IMA established a permanent presence in country growing to 11 permanent local staff and many volunteers. The clinic has continually served a community of over 100,000, providing life saving medical care free of cost to 1000's of patients a year. Our work has expanded in Sierra Leone to include clean water development and educational programs. Working off of the belief that clean water, healthcare and education are basic human rights everyone deserve access to, all of our work is provided free of cost to the community.
Impacts: Sierra Leone
International Mutual Aid with the support of Kono Eastern Development Association began our work in Sierra Leone during the Ebola Crisis. Working with local authorities, our team helped respond to the crisis, opening the Gbamandu clinic. After the crisis, we continued our work in the community, providing free medical care to over 100,000 people. Since then, we built and maintained the Raymond and Sally Haik Women's Health Center. The center provides superior antenatal, delivery, and post delivery care to Mofinko Section. It has ensured that all mothers are able to remain as inpatients for 72 hours after delivery, improving maternal and neonatal health. Our team now consists of 11 full time Sierra Leonian medical staff, which has allowed us to treat thousands of patients a year. Our work has expanded beyond medical care to water and education programs. Partnering with Wine to Water, we have been able to improve access to clean drinking water across the section. Our team has also begun working on a town sized sand water filter, which will provide clean drinking water for the entire town. In the year 2026, our education program began. Working with the local school, our team has improved literacy scores for children across the board. With the goal of expanding to other local schools, our education program is just beginning.
COVID-19 Pandemic Response, USA
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our medical staff in the US partnered with the Salt Lake County Health Department to provide emergency care during the pandemic. Our work included building and implementing a Personal Protective Equipment training program for medical providers working in Salt Lake County COVID Quarantine and Isolation Centers (Q&I), and testing centers. We also implemented enhanced Infection Control procedures at Q&I centers (which treated over 2,000 patients). Due to the changing environment we based all infectious disease control recommendations on ongoing investigation into the extensive, emerging, reputable research on SARS-CoV-2, a novel disease threat.
Ebola Response, 2014 - 2016
- Partnered with Gbamandu Clinic to provide access to free care and medications to all patients in our catchment during Ebola. Treated conditions ranging from malaria, typhoid, and STIs to pregnancy complications and trauma.
- Trained and equipped local health staff to safely care for suspected Ebola patients.
- Built trust in the section allowing the team to conduct extensive Ebola surveillance and case investigation, leading to the discovery and halting of an extensive chain of transmission involving certain portions of the Kono District population.
- Assisted in contact tracing and basic needs support for dozens of quarantined individuals and identified, treated, and transferred suspect Ebola patients from the quarantine as needed.
- Worked closely with DFID, UNMEER, CDC and local responders at the DERC to improve quality of service and provided additional Epidemiological support.
- Conducted health education sessions with the community.
Staff
Colin Dunn
Director
Director
Colin Dunn is a co-founder of International Mutual Aid.
Mr. Dunn has worked in Fire and EMS as a Firefighter/Paramedic for twenty-
four years and is a retired US Army veteran. He has served in US rural and urban
environments, and overseas as a member of the U.S. Army and after his military
career. His extensive deployments include Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Africa, and
Ukraine. Fire departments Mr. Dunn has served on include Emarado Fire
Department, ND, Montgomery Co. Fire in MD, GanciAir Base Fire Dept.,
Kyrgyzstan, and Uinta-Wasatch Cache National Forest in Utah. Mr. Dunn helped
set up and run the first treatment facility at Forward Operating Base Salerno in
Khowst, Afghanistan. During his military career Colin served in the Special
Operations community and as a cultural expert. Mr. Dunn has a long history of
working successfully with diverse populations to achieve significant goals. Mr. Dunn
has extensive experience leading teams in remote and dangerous environments, with limited
support, including Afghanistan, E. Africa, W. Africa, and Ukraine. Colin served as IMA's team
leader during our 2014/15 Ebola response in Sierra Leone and as the project lead for IMA's
assistance to Salt Lake County Public Health Department during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Colin continues to serve as IMA's full time director.
Mr. Dunn has worked in Fire and EMS as a Firefighter/Paramedic for twenty-
four years and is a retired US Army veteran. He has served in US rural and urban
environments, and overseas as a member of the U.S. Army and after his military
career. His extensive deployments include Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Africa, and
Ukraine. Fire departments Mr. Dunn has served on include Emarado Fire
Department, ND, Montgomery Co. Fire in MD, GanciAir Base Fire Dept.,
Kyrgyzstan, and Uinta-Wasatch Cache National Forest in Utah. Mr. Dunn helped
set up and run the first treatment facility at Forward Operating Base Salerno in
Khowst, Afghanistan. During his military career Colin served in the Special
Operations community and as a cultural expert. Mr. Dunn has a long history of
working successfully with diverse populations to achieve significant goals. Mr. Dunn
has extensive experience leading teams in remote and dangerous environments, with limited
support, including Afghanistan, E. Africa, W. Africa, and Ukraine. Colin served as IMA's team
leader during our 2014/15 Ebola response in Sierra Leone and as the project lead for IMA's
assistance to Salt Lake County Public Health Department during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Colin continues to serve as IMA's full time director.
Virginia Price
Operations Manager
Operations Manager
Virginia Price is a co-founder of IMA.
Ms. Price studied at Stanford University on an International Relations/Premed track,
and is based in Utah, where she works as a Firefighter/Paramedic. She has
performed extensive medical work in the developing world, and has been i
instrumental in planning and operations for complex technical rescues, expeditions,
and ocean voyages to remote locations. This includes a year in Antarctica, providing
airfield fire/hazmat protection and medical support for McMurdo Station, and the
continent-wide Joint Antarctic Search and Rescue Team. Ms. Price provided disaster relief
following the 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake, as well as after multiple damaging
storms in the United States. She has worked with street children in Russia, and responded to Ebola
in West Africa in 2014-2015. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, she organized PPE training and
infection control in Salt Lake County Health Dept. Quarantine and Isolation Centers, worked as an
Infectious Disease Medical Unit Leader on large federal emergency incidents, and provided leadership in a Type 1 FEMA vaccination center in Las Vegas.
Gbamandu Clinic Staff and Volunteers
As IMA has expanded, we found we could no longer ask our local providers to volunteer their time. IMA now has a dedicated paid local staff. These incredible individuals have chosen to remain in a very rural enviroment to help the community.
Moses Yambie
IMA Country Lead - retired MOH Vaccinator
IMA Country Lead - retired MOH Vaccinator
Moses was born and attended primary school in Gbamandu. When the civil war
interrupted his secondary school education, Moses volunteered as a nursing
aide with Médecins Sans Frontiers (MSF). Working in a refugee camp just over
the Guinea border, the MSF clinic saw over 100 patients a day. After rebel forces
began attacking the refugee camp, Moses returned to Sierra Leone and served as
a clinician at Koidu Government Hospital. Postwar, Moses served as a field
supervisor for the International Rescue Committee before accepting an MoHS
position running the childhood immunization program at the newly rebuilt
Gbamandu clinic. IMA began working with Moses during Ebola in 2015. Moses’s
dedication to patient care is a testament to his character. He embodies IMA’s
values of Compassion and Empathy. Moses spent the last two months working
long days performing patient care, making countless motorbike rides to Koidu
with other staff and (sometimes critically ill) patients, ensuring transparent and
accountable logistical support, and building productive working relationships with
providers at Koidu Government Hospital.
interrupted his secondary school education, Moses volunteered as a nursing
aide with Médecins Sans Frontiers (MSF). Working in a refugee camp just over
the Guinea border, the MSF clinic saw over 100 patients a day. After rebel forces
began attacking the refugee camp, Moses returned to Sierra Leone and served as
a clinician at Koidu Government Hospital. Postwar, Moses served as a field
supervisor for the International Rescue Committee before accepting an MoHS
position running the childhood immunization program at the newly rebuilt
Gbamandu clinic. IMA began working with Moses during Ebola in 2015. Moses’s
dedication to patient care is a testament to his character. He embodies IMA’s
values of Compassion and Empathy. Moses spent the last two months working
long days performing patient care, making countless motorbike rides to Koidu
with other staff and (sometimes critically ill) patients, ensuring transparent and
accountable logistical support, and building productive working relationships with
providers at Koidu Government Hospital.
Ella Teh
IMA Assistant Country Director - retired MOH nurse
IMA Assistant Country Director - retired MOH nurse
We were very excited to welcome Ella to the team in 2025.
Ella is a trusted and beloved local fixture in the Soa
Chiefdom area, having worked as a healthcare provider
through Ebola and in the difficult decades afterwards. Ella
has seen many local women through difficult pregnancies,
and preserved the lives of countless seriously ill local c
children. She is reliably energetic, fun, dedicated to patient
wellbeing, and ready to mentor new healthcare providers.
Ella is a trusted and beloved local fixture in the Soa
Chiefdom area, having worked as a healthcare provider
through Ebola and in the difficult decades afterwards. Ella
has seen many local women through difficult pregnancies,
and preserved the lives of countless seriously ill local c
children. She is reliably energetic, fun, dedicated to patient
wellbeing, and ready to mentor new healthcare providers.
Margaret Kanawa
IMA Volunteer - Traditional Birthing Assistant
IMA Volunteer - Traditional Birthing Assistant
Inspired by a dream of saving lives, Margaret became a Traditional Birthing Assistant in
2003. She loves TBA work and does not want to see any maternal deaths in her community.
She dedicates almost every day of the month to volunteering in the clinic. Margaret has 8
children, one of who is seeking a scholarship for medical school.
2003. She loves TBA work and does not want to see any maternal deaths in her community.
She dedicates almost every day of the month to volunteering in the clinic. Margaret has 8
children, one of who is seeking a scholarship for medical school.
Sia Nanoh
IMA Volunteer - Traditional Birthing Assistant
IMA Volunteer - Traditional Birthing Assistant
In 2012, observing that the clinic needed volunteers, Sia decided to jump into medicine as a
Traditional Birthing Assistant. She now spends almost every day of the month volunteering
at the clinic. She hopes to one day see improvements in the village such as electricity, better
school access for children, and clean water. She has children, including one daughter who
wishes to become a nurse.
Traditional Birthing Assistant. She now spends almost every day of the month volunteering
at the clinic. She hopes to one day see improvements in the village such as electricity, better
school access for children, and clean water. She has children, including one daughter who
wishes to become a nurse.
Aiah M Quee-Johnny
IMA Volunteer Translator - Mofinkor Development Association Chairman - Headmaster at a Local School
IMA Volunteer Translator - Mofinkor Development Association Chairman - Headmaster at a Local School
Aiah was born in Gbamandu in 1968, son of Tamba Quee-Johnny
and Yei Isata Johnny. He is the youngest brother of Sahr E Johnny-
the original founder of Mofinko Development Association (MDA).
MDA is IMA’s valued local Nonprofit partner. Aiah has taken up his
older brother’s mantle and now leads MDA as Chairman. He
possesses a Teacher Certificate and Higher Teacher Certificate,
and works as Headmaster of a school on the Guinea-Sierra Leone
border. Aiah is married, with five children.
and Yei Isata Johnny. He is the youngest brother of Sahr E Johnny-
the original founder of Mofinko Development Association (MDA).
MDA is IMA’s valued local Nonprofit partner. Aiah has taken up his
older brother’s mantle and now leads MDA as Chairman. He
possesses a Teacher Certificate and Higher Teacher Certificate,
and works as Headmaster of a school on the Guinea-Sierra Leone
border. Aiah is married, with five children.
Patrick Senesie
Registrar and Volunteer Translator, MOH Community Health Worker
Registrar and Volunteer Translator, MOH Community Health Worker
Patrick is in charge of Patient Registration at the clinic. He plays a crucial organizational
role, and also supports his community with malaria testing and treatment as a Community
Health Worker. Patrick often entertains the group with historical facts and quotes from
"Things Fall Apart".
role, and also supports his community with malaria testing and treatment as a Community
Health Worker. Patrick often entertains the group with historical facts and quotes from
"Things Fall Apart".
Abu Bakar Fillie
Rider and Volunteer Translator
Rider and Volunteer Translator
|
Former soldier and current farmer, Abu Bakar is a dependable presence at our clinic. He is a talented emergency rider and translator, and is compassionate and patient with children. Abu Bakar is often the first to spot seriously ill patients in the community or the waiting area, and bring them to triage.
|
Stateside and Internationally- Based Volunteers
Rick Jones, PA
Board Member at Large, Medical Consultant
Board Member at Large, Medical Consultant
Rick has worked in medicine for 2+ decades. He was a Paramedic before going to
Physician Assistant school. He currently works in Emergency Medicine in the US and
spends as much time as he can in Africa.
Physician Assistant school. He currently works in Emergency Medicine in the US and
spends as much time as he can in Africa.
Ann Scanlan
IMA Volunteer - Treasurer
IMA Volunteer - Treasurer
Ann is a semi-retired supervisor in the hospitality industry. Her formal education credentials include
an MBA from Indiana University in Marketing & Finance and a BSB in Accounting from University of
Minnesota. She has her own tax practice and has volunteered her financial skills over the years for
various non-profits. As a board member for her son's youth hockey team, she devised marketing
campaigns, organized fundraisers, and oversaw all financial matters. She filed for 501(c)3 status on
behalf of a turtle rescue group. Ann brings perspective on how to serve people and experience in
managing the accounting records and tax filings. She raised four successful children and is excited to
support a next-generation team at IMA. She is proud of the brave work they do, and says that the relationships
with the folks that staff the clinic keep her young at heart!
an MBA from Indiana University in Marketing & Finance and a BSB in Accounting from University of
Minnesota. She has her own tax practice and has volunteered her financial skills over the years for
various non-profits. As a board member for her son's youth hockey team, she devised marketing
campaigns, organized fundraisers, and oversaw all financial matters. She filed for 501(c)3 status on
behalf of a turtle rescue group. Ann brings perspective on how to serve people and experience in
managing the accounting records and tax filings. She raised four successful children and is excited to
support a next-generation team at IMA. She is proud of the brave work they do, and says that the relationships
with the folks that staff the clinic keep her young at heart!
Tamba Johnny
IMA Volunteer - Sierra Leone Logistics
IMA Volunteer - Sierra Leone Logistics
Tamba Johnny was born in Koidu Town, Kono District, Sierra Leone. He has a long
history of working with nonprofits, including the African Cultural Exchange, and
International Mutual Aid. He is motivated to work with IMA due to “the experience I
had in 2014-2015, when IMA visited my country during the Ebola Epidemic. No one
else would visit at that time of grief. IMA eradicated Ebola from my section. I will
work with them always”.
history of working with nonprofits, including the African Cultural Exchange, and
International Mutual Aid. He is motivated to work with IMA due to “the experience I
had in 2014-2015, when IMA visited my country during the Ebola Epidemic. No one
else would visit at that time of grief. IMA eradicated Ebola from my section. I will
work with them always”.
Our Partners
Airlink - Globus Relief- Mofinko Development Association - Wine to Water
|
Copyright IMA
|
2024
|
|