Freetown, July 3, 09. (MOHS) – Equipments for the installation of an Intranet Pan African E Network project for the Presidential, Education and Health and Sanitation Ministries have arrived to kick start the project.

The project which is sponsored by the African Union, aims at brining Medical personnel and students closer to the world on Tele Medicine and E-education through an interactive computer technology.

Hon Information and Communication Minister , I B Kargbo

Making the disclosure at a meeting held in the conference hall of  the Ministry of  Information and Communication at Youyi Building in Freetown, Information and Communication Minister, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo described the project as Multi lateral signed in Addis Ababa, Ethopia to provide Tele Medicine and E- learning for Sierra Leoneans.

He called on all Sectoral Ministries to be committed to the clearing of the equipments off shore, noting that the installation should be given a priority whilst putting in place other administrative Mechanism.

The Minister reiterated the need for collective responsibility, stressing the importance of the project in meeting the challenges within its five years period.

Cross Section of the High Table and Audience

Mr. Kargbo told the meeting that the installation of the equipment is a necessary step to ensure its positive implementation, adding that his Ministry as a Coordinating Body for the project would continue its task, and encouraged the beneficiary Ministries to invest and start the budgetary aspect to articulate actions towards achieving the desired goal.

He urged the Ministries to look at the project holistically with a view to scaling up the operational aspect.

Hon. Presidential and Public Affairs Minister, Joseph Koroma

Presidential and Public Affairs Minister, Joseph Koroma expressed the need for the recruitment of committed and  dedicated Sierra Leoneans to run the system, describing it as a brilliant project for the development of the country.

 

Hon Minister of Health Sheiku Tejan Koroma

Health and Sanitation Minister, Sheiku Tejan Koroma described the project as a catalyst that would improve health care at the Cannaught hospital, with plans to extend the facility to the districts.

He told the meeting that his Ministry has already identified 10 Technicians and pledged his Ministry’s commitment to meet its obligation.

From left: Permanent Sectary Ministry of Information and Communication Mr. Fofanah and Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Saidata Sesay

Deputy Information and Communication Minister, Haja Saidata Sesay said the project has been introduced in many parts of the world through a new technology that would set Sierra Leone globally with assistance from the Pan African Network to improve the country’s education and medical sector.

 

Gogate Vinayak , Project Engineer

The Project Engineer Telecommunication Consultants India Ltd, Gogate Vinayak said the project is part of India’s programme with three dormain connecting eight devices extended to Africa.

He said the installation of the Antenae would be done separately at the Connaught hospital, Fourah Bah College and the Office of the President.

Medical Practitioners, he opined, would benefit from the Tele Medicine technology whilst students would get theirs from Classroom lectures with other students without any communication problem.

Beneficiaries he said, would sit on a Computer, see each other and discuss issues of relevance, adding that they would supply all the Machinery to fit the technology that would make possible direct link online and off line with the other side.

He told the meeting that provision is also provided where doctors needed Consultation with their counterparts on a specialized manner, working in collaboration with hospitals in India that are familiar with the system.

The President, the Consultant said would also have the capacity to monitor what is happening in Tele Medicine and the Education sector, adding that the country would benefit immensely form the project.

The Permanent Sectary Ministry of Information and Communication and Chairman of the meeting, Mr. Hamid Fofanah underscored the importance of the project and encouraged the sectoral ministries to help complimenting the Information Ministry’s efforts in making the project a reality.

According to the two Telecommunication Consultants India Limited, Gogate Vinayak and Ashok Kumar, Basic knowledge in computer is the only capacity needed to enable one operates the system. SLENA reports.

JAK/MK/MOHS/SLENA