I was assigned to the Kabala Government Hospital under the South-South Health Care delivery programme that was initially made up of a group of 77 developing countries rendering mutual assistance in the area of man power.

Dr Oladipo Oluwathola Abayomi, Medical Officer, Kabala Government Hospital, Koinadugu District:

We were ten in number; seven doctors and three nurses.

Basically, I met the health sector in Kabala very backward, especially in the area of personnel.

Since my arrival however, we have been working studiously to cope with all the shortfalls we were confronted, and there has been a lot of improvement in terms of service delivery.

For instance, the 90 days Rapid Result Approach yielded positive results, such as the distribution of mosquito-treated bed nets and the massive defaulter tracing campaign.

There have also been laudable strides in the area of coordination of activities, monitoring and reporting, which has had an overall positive impact in the health delivery system in the district.

As the only medical officer attached to the hospital, my job entails doing suggery, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology and general practice for the past seven months. 

We have been working in this make-shift site (Kabala Community Center) due to the rehabilitation of the hospital.

As an expatriate, I commend Government efforts towards the health delivery services in the district.

Having said that, let me urge the government to continue supporting the DHMT to enable it undertake more health activities to achieve a healthy Koinadugu, in line with the Millennium Development Goals.

More importantly, is the need for adequate staff and good wages for the very few personnel engaged in the health service delivery.