SALUTATIONS

Words can hardly express my pleasure and joy as I rise to make this brief statement at this formal opening and commissioning of the Psychiatric Hospital complex by our President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. His interest concern and encouragement have been constantly manifested in this project which is a part of the wider task of providing preventive and curative mental health care to all our citizens. The task is great and so every step achieved is important. We thank the President immensely for his active care and concern.

 
Hon. Minister delivering her Speech on the grounds of the Hospital

Our Mission Statement in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation is “to deliver curative, preventive and rehabilitative health care to all the people in Sierra Leone and to empower them educationally and otherwise to effect promotive health care”.

Our Vision is “within the shortest possible time and through the cumulative means available, to ensure Health for All”.

“Health”, as defined by the WHO “is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease”.

Mental health and wellbeing is an important aspect of health. Indeed it is the most important aspect because it concerns the personality, the ego, of a person, which makes him or self respecting and responsible. It concerns also the integration of the person into society. The mentally ill are the most disadvantaged in society. They are deprived of almost all their rights except the right to life which the Law protects although they are marginalized.

This institution whose refurbished structure has been opened and commissioned today was formally known as “the Lunatic Asylum” i.e. the depository of humans who are regarded as “garbage”. Overtime, however, society has come to realize that mental illness can be cured and even prevented, like malaria. Society can even take steps to promote mental and psychological help and wellbeing.

Front View of some of the rehabilitated wards at the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital

This institution is now regarded as a “Psychiatric Hospital” for secondary and tertiary curative care of those who are seriously mentally ill. It is the only one of its kind in Sierra Leone.

This is the forth Tertiary Hospital been commissioned this Year after extensive reconstruction of Connaught, Princess Christian Maternity Hospital, commonly known as PCMH and the Ola During Children Hospital formally known as Children’s Hospital.

In January 2002, the Government of Sierra Leone obtained a Loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for the reconstruction and construction of the Kissy Mental Hospital.

The total cost of the Loan was US $ 2,835 Million. It was proposed that IDB finance the project by way of Loan up to an amount of US $ 2.510 Million to the Government of Sierra Leone which represents 80 per cent of the total project cost. The balance of US $ 0.325 Million represents 12 per cent of Sierra Leone Government counterpart contribution.

The project had a three fold objective namely:

•           To improve the general physical condition of the hospital.

•           To improve the standard of Psychiatric care in the country.

•           To train personnel in the Psychiatric discipline.

Today, we are witnessing the achievement of the first objective. It includes two essential component namely, civil works and procurement.

The Civil Works

These comprised the Reconstruction Expansion and construction: This was necessary because superstructure of the hospital was 75 per cent to 80 per cent damage during the 11 years war between 1991 and 2002.

The complex now comprises 23 buildings. Each with its own distinct structure. The buildings have a total floor area of 4,222 sq meters in an enclosed land area of 2.7 acres.

EXPANSION

This provides a new administrative building, a Therapy workshop, a mortuary, senior staff quarters, a septic tank and a soak away pit, a water tank constructed with steel plate and mounted on a steel tower, paved walk ways, perimeter fencing, out door kitchen and a Generator House. Also included are a bore hole for water and a 2000 gallons water bowser to ensure constant supply of water to staff, and inmates as well as a technical service delivery areas of the hospital.

Part of the Expansion at the Hospital

PROCUREMENT

Essential for the functioning of the hospital are furniture, equipment and drugs. The hospital will have 400 beds and mattresses, a complete set of laboratory equipment, clinical essentials like thermometer (blood pressure machines) stethoscopes etc. and administrative equipment which include a lap top computer, a photo copier, a standby generator and refrigerators.

The project will also provide a year’s supply of drugs.

MR. CHAIRMAN, YOUR EXCELLENCY, OUR HONOURED GUESTS,

I want to inform the nation that the government of Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation take the delivery of psychiatric care as a serious concern. A Draft Mental Health Policy is now in place. It is hoped that this will direct and enable our collective effort at providing psychiatric care nationwide. The current estimate of those mentally ill is about 150,000 i.e. about 3 per cent of the population. This includes people suffering from depression, situational disturbances, drug and alcohol dependency, trauma, other neuroses as well as the psychoses. The last is a very small fraction of the mentally ill. But many of them can be cured or reasonably improved with proper care in suitable environment.

MR. CHAIRMAN, OUR HONOURED GUESTS,

This new hospital complex will benefit the population of Sierra Leone including women who suffer from psychological trauma, stress, and depression.

Please remember that our vision is to ensure HEALTH FOR ALL. The mentally ill and those in danger of being mentally ill are also part of the “ALL”.

In conclusion let me use this opportunity to thank my predecessors Dr. Tejan Jalloh and Mrs. Agnes Taylor Lewis who participated in this project in the early stages, also, the former Director General Medical Services, Dr. Sheku Kamara and Dr. Noah Conteh, the former Director Generals Management Services, Mr. Surur and Mr. M.S. Kebe for their contribution to the project; and all former staff who have been involved in this project at one time or the other.

I also want to express my profound thanks and appreciation to all the staff of my ministry and the various committees who have worked tirelessly to make this day a reality. In particular, I salute my management team, the Western Area Hospital Board, and the entire staff of the Kissy Mental Hospital. I hope the cooperate spirit that has evolved during this exercise of planning to reopen this hospital amongst the various committees will now be the culture of my ministry. Finally, let me also thank the contracting Firm, NIMO Construction and their Supervisory engineers, Realini Bader for a job well done.

Mr. Chairman, Your Excellency, Our Honoured guests, I thank you for your attention.

I want to pay particular tribute to Dr. Edward Nahim, the only Psychiatrist in Sierra Leone who has worked relentlessly and with great commitment over the past 30 years, also his Assistant Dr. Humberto one of our Cuban Volunteers for his commitment since he arrived here almost two years ago.

I thank you all for your attention.

The Minister and the President seated at the High table with the Deputy Minister of Finance Joe Kallon smilingly looking on.