I entered the service as a trainee in 1970. I did a Diploma in Public Health Inspection in West Africa in 1973. In 1975, I was promoted Public Health Inspector Grade II.

Mr Joseph Samuel Lawson Cole, District Health Superintendent, Moyamba District

I served in that capacity until last year (2005), when I was promoted to my present position.

I came here in 1998 as acting District Health Superintendent, responsible for general administration, organizing workers and ensuring that refuse collection is effectively carried out in the district.

 I also sensitize schools and market places on sanitation, investigate complaints in environmental health and find solutions to them; Health Education is the pivot of my duties.

I lecture at the MCH Aides Training School, in the areas of Environmental Sanitation, Nutrition and Community Health.

Under Water and Sanitation, I ensure that water supply is safe through the proper location of wells and regular chlorination of well water.

Water wells should be located away from injurious matter (refuse, graves, and toilets) and chlorinated at regular intervals.

We investigate disease outbreaks and participate in the inter-sectoral meetings of the DHMT.

Almost all the 14 chiefdoms have water wells, though there is need for more.

During the war most of the water wells were destroyed either by poisoning or polluted with human corpses and subsequently abandoned by the community.

 But even after we had cleared and chlorinated most of these wells, the people refused to drink the water for fear of disease or death.

I had to demonstrate that the water was safe by being the first to drink it in some places, such as in N’jagbahun, Pelewahun and Gbojeima.

Most of the wells dry up in the dry season and this poses a serious problem.

There are three Environmental Health Officers each in charge of a different aspect of Environmental Health such as Nutrition, Social Mobilization, Mining Sanitation and Port Health Sanitation and Water and Sanitation and Environmental Sanitation.

Generally the situation is improving with the advent of decentralization.

With the participation of the District Council, hitherto slow activities can now be carried out and more effectively especially in the Health sector.

The cooperation between my unit, the DHMT and Council is very cordial, which enhances the effective implementation of health programmes in the district.

The sanitary truck provided by the World Bank is of tremendous help in the area of waste collection in the township.

Despite these gains, we continue to be deviled by a dilapidated office, destroyed during the war.

 In addition, there is a dearth of staff in all categories with the present staff strength comprising one District Superintendent, three Environmental Health Officers, four Public Health Aides and seven Sanitary Laborers.