DEPUTY HEALTH MINISTER CONCLUDE EASTERN REGION ROUTINE TOUR

Kono, May 24, 2007 ( MOHS) – Health And Sanitation Minister, Ibrahim Sesay has concluded a week long provincial  tour to the district health quarter towns in Kenema , Kailahun  and Kono  where he held meeting with the District Health Management Teams and Staff of the Hospitals.

Deputy Minister Addresses Staff of The Koidu Government Hospital.

Addressing a meeting held at the Kono District Primary Health Care Hall in Koidu, The Deputy Minister reiterated government commitment to improve the working conditions of personnel in the medical profession with the view to providing and enabling environment for quality affordable and accessible health care services in all health facilities in the country.

Mr. Sesay commended the entire workforce in the hospital and peripheral health units for their untiring efforts and selfless service in promoting an efficient and effective service delivery in the region, adding that their success is due to team work which they should maintain. 
 

He told his audience that the services rendered by nurses, doctors and other health care providers may be sacrificial but with a divine reward.

Dilating on the current Youth Empowerment Scheme, the Deputy Minister said the programme was initiated in recognition of the voluntary services rendered to government in the past by the youths with a view to empowering them to become more resourceful for both themselves and the country.

He encouraged them to continue to show understanding with the government as there are more benefits on the pipeline. The programme, he maintained, is going to be sustainable for the good of this country.

From Right: Deputy Minister, Hon. Ibrahim Sesay, District Medical Officer Kono, Dr. Momodu Sesay and the Hospital Matron

Mr. Sesay while commenting on last years cholera outbreak in other part of the country, praised the Kono District Health Management Team for preventing the epidemic in their district and encouraged them to scale up additional strategies to avert any outbreak as the rains are now at their door steps.

On the issue of Maternal and Child Health, the Deputy Minister spoke about the objectives and goals of the Ministry’s child survival project and called on the Maternal Child Health (MCH) Aides to   help minimized the incidence of maternal and child deaths in their various communities.

Making his remarks, the District Medical Officer, Dr. Momodu Sesay described the Minister’s visit as very important and moral support to boost their capacity.

He said a lot of development has taken place since the year 2002. The District Medical Officer said there were 28 health facilities but can now boast of 67 functional peripheral health unit manned by 80 percent Maternal Child Health ( MCH) Aides .

Enumerating the services rendered, Dr. Sesay Said the peripheral health units provide services in the areas of child survival and maternal activities, Birth Registration, Immunization and growth monitoring, community based treatment of malaria and other diseases adding that their recent immunization coverage show a remarkable excellent results.

He said the primary and secondary district operations continues with ongoing rehabilitation, additional reconstruction works and efficient health care delivery services but difficult for the hospital to cope with the Primary Health Care Programme due to some constraints.

Support from the Local and International Partners as well as the District and Town Council Dr. Sesay said, has been very encouraging.

The Matron of the Koidu Government Hospital, described the hospital care as very good but with some constraints.

Commenting on some of the constraints the matron advocate for additional trained and qualified nurses, more doctors to assist the only single doctor in the hospital with a view to coping with  referral cases. Other problems include lack of utility vehicle , delayed promotion, inadequate medical supplies, staffs accommodation and lack of storage facility for drugs safety and efficacy .

A spokesman for the Kono community, Mr. Ahmed Tamba Pimbi described the performance of the hospital and PHU staff as impressive and satisfactory and advocated for a better conditions of service.

He said because of the efficient patients care in the hospital, a huge influx of emergency cases is seen on a daily basis.

Mr. Pimbi however, lauded government for the priority  placed on health noting that there is no chiefdom now in the country without a health facility.