I have served as the District Medical Officer in Port Loko since November 2005, when my predecessor travelled abroad for further studies. I also double as Medical Officer-in-Charge of the Government Hospital, a position which I have held since May 2003. I have served the health sector since October 1996, beginning as a Temporary House Officer and ending up as a professional medical doctor.

Dr Ibrahim J. Kargbo-Labour, DMO, Port Loko

Until lately, the health sector was doing fairly well in our district especially during the immediate post war period when we were being assisted by the International Medical Corps (IMC), who rehabilitated the Hospital, including the Medical Stores in 2002. When I took over, there were sufficient and well motivated nurses who were receiving incentive from them (IMC), which encouraged them to work even harder. But as soon as IMC ceased operations in March 2003, two months after I have assumed office as Medical Officer-in-Charge, the nurses too started pulling out as the working conditions became unbearable. This led to an acute staff shortage.

The Ministry attempted to remedy the situation by posting a few nurses to the district based upon a request from me. But their services were short-lived as they abandoned their postings due to what they described as discouraging working conditions. This problem, among others has continued to haunt us till date.

In fact, even as I speak to you, I am the only professionally trained and qualified medical doctor in the hospital, making do with the few nurses and nursing aids that we have.

It is worth noting that, like most other districts, the rebel war left it toll on the health sector in Port Loko. While the District Medical Store was looted, most PHUs were destroyed, some beyond repairs. Although a reasonable number of them have been reconstructed or rehabilitated, there still others which deserve urgent attention.

In the areas of water and sanitation, please let me confess to you that when I took over there was no pipe borne water supply in the hospital, but as I speak to you, engineering work for pipe borne water supply within the Hospital is almost at its concluding stages.

This situation in not, however, insurmountable as long as stakeholders are prepared to demonstrate renewed commitment to rescuing the situation.